New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-25

once came from er Ruhaibeh spending the might on
the bank of Nahr es Suny, where It nnltes WIN
Wady ee Seba' which comes down from Beer eDa'
THE rolling plain from the wady nOrthward TO daza
was then green ana flOWery as meadow ana nuen
of it clothed with wheat hpt there IS not Hlllags
along the entire route, and all the grain Peioneeo
to fe9f-dwelling Arabs We passed many OF their
encamnmenfs. where every kind Of work common IN
ordinary villages in active Operation, and car
ried on with the same SORT OF Implements IneITe
were however as was natural many more camels
and larger hocks than ordinary peasants possess
and these formed a v aTonRd rs examples
OF primitive pastoral life, like those seen on TINS
same PLAN, suppose In tin, days OF ADraham ana
Isaac Men, women and children, clad IN garments
and following emplOyments, pastoral and agr1eul-
tural like those of the patriarehs. 1t carried one
back, as by enchantment, to the tents pitched IN
the valley of Gerar IN the days OF those venerable
ancestors of Gods chosen people.
These pastoral Arabs present very interesting
study. Unlike the wandering Bedoutn, their
cousins they are permanently settled on t9s pam
along the seabOard; and their manner of life must
closely resemble that Of the Philistnes with whom
the patriarchs associated. Wdwere passing through
their encampments for several hours, and were
everywhere welcomed as friends. Tho women were
not veiled nor was there any objection made to our
visiting their tents, and inspecting tner iurniTre
were far from idle; but the harvest had not yet
commenced, they were chiefly occupied with their
focks and herds and ipSthe manufacture OF cheese
and butter Some of the women were spinning
Roat's-hair into strands, to be woven into coarse
black material for tent-COverings rugs, and SACKS
the gram Ineir Splnul0 WIS VI
kind being often merely stone, which they de3-
terously twirled around until the strand was sui-
GENTLY twisted. They can weave without any loom.
The threads of the warp are stretchedi upon the
ground, and made fast at either end to stout
Stick and the threads Of the wool are passed
through with the hand and pressed back into posi-
ton by a rude wooden comb.
Boys and girls are scattered over the plain,
watching the iOcks to prevent them from treSpass;
ing upon the Prom every camp 20 or4 3Sa
wells where only the hocks are watered; and L
noticed that many Of these paths turned toward the
seashore probably because water is there found at
less depth than in the interior These wells are the
places of public resort and there one can SEQ and
study to theibest advantage the appearance, man
ncrs customs and costumes OF these modern Phills-
tines There they gather, with jail their belongings
In groups picturesque and suggestive to the tray-
eller and to the eye and imagination Of the artist.
Some singular and even romantic incidents IN
the history of the Hebrew patrarchs are associated
with wells IL was at q well in the city of Major,
in MesOpOtamia that EiszeT Ct Damascus R tho
bekah as recorded in the twenty-fourth chapter OF
Genesis. 1t was at we'll insthe land of the people
tiful and well-favored" Rachel, and kissed her
and lifted up his voice and wept." 1t was also at
well that Moses met Zipporah, the, daughter of
JethrO the priest of INDIAN, whom he atterward
married, and helped her and her sisters to water
their fathers flock. Did you notice amongst the
tents ofithese fmOdem lshmaelites any females OF
surprising loveliness that recalled the stories VI
those celebrated ladesf
No, indeed; still some Of the young people are
9ot wanting IN I an epe Syo and USpa
singular ease aud grace in the disposal about the
person of their flowing garments and IN their At
fitudes and motions Doubtless the well Is still the
fayorte trysting-place as 1t must have been in an
Client days; and any young BedOuin bent on matri-
monial alliance wond expect there to find the OBJ
ject of his ardent affections.
The pictorial illustrations, with which the
volume abounds are taken from original drawings
and the most recent photographs, and In their va
axna1lanoa 70.
vorably with any former productions of the kind,
either in Europe or America. They have been exc
cuted under the superintendent of the author by
competent artists in London, Paris and New-YOrk,
and greatly increase the value and attractiyeness
Of the work.
PRIMER OF AMERICAN LITERATURE. BY
1smO. pp. 1870. Harper & Brothers.
The value of this brief compendium Of American
literary history is not to be estimated by the num-
Der of Its pages. 1t not only condenses into mar
row compass the titles of the most important books
in our native literature, but expresses series OF
judgments on their quality which are no less re-
markable for their critical insight than for their
pointed expression and pregnant brevity. The
parallel drawn by the author between President
Edwards and DR.. Franklin is a novel suggestion,
but not without weight. While franklin was found
ing schools and forming nations, Edwards carried
away the minds of men to enthusiastic comtempla-
ton and holy Joys. While one was mlngling
with the world of letters and politics in
Europe and America, the other filled the
age with sublime visions of spiritual beings, and
composed work whose vigorous logic has never
vet found q reply, 1t Is doubtful, Mr.. Lawrence
remarks which Of these two great intellects was Of
the greater weight in human afairsi whether Ed
wards composing his rare work in silent study, was
A. ,ka-k 1,nv,
ing his schools and planning his library; whether
Franklin has not preached with more success than
even the gifted pastor of Northampton the lesson
of humanity and benevolence to endless genera
tions. The influence Of Washington Irving is de-
clared to possess wider scope even than Is usually
ascribed to that beloved author. His deliCacy,
generosity, refinement, span like rainbow the
whole course of modern literature the traces of his
influence may be found in Prescott, in Bryant,
Bancroft, Dickens, Tbackeray, even in the poetry
and the philosophy Of an Emerson and Haw-
thorne." Mr.. Lawrence's estimate of the three
greatest American historians is discriminating and
udicious. The first volume Of BanCrOfts History
OF the United States. he remarks formed an epoch
in American literature 1t was widely read In all
civilized countries. The succeeding volumes, as
they came out in slow and steady progression, K e
those Of Livy. increased Its renown 1t was trans
lated into many languages; its influence on the
course of human affairs has necessarily been great;
and for fOrty-fve years the powerful pen of Its
author has helped forward the cause Of human free
dom. In the ardor Of youthful ambition, his first
volume was completed, and the fight Of nearly half
century has not dimmed bis fancy or
touched his historical genius. hr. Lawrence
gives an interesting account of the peculiar
processes of composition to which Mr.. Pres
colt was compelled by his impaired eyesight.
and remarks that " tho animation Of his style is
wonderful amidst the toll he was forced to bestow
upon it. The glow Of his fancy Is always rich and
soft. He adorns the siege of Malta or the sack Of
Mexico with all the Of learning, magma