Nebraska advertiser., 1880-12-09
THE GARDEN OF EDEN.
An American Tourists Visit to the
Arabian Arcadia.

Cha H. Addison in Chicago All snce.
A couple of hours ride over a most
wretched bride path, up and down
rugged mountain passes, brought us to
this charming oasis called ''Ehden."
The Arabs assured us this spot was the
real garden of Eden, and judging from
the intense curiosity they evinced con-
corning ourselves and our traps, we had
no difficulty in believing this to be the
garden where our first mother Eve
dwelt ere she grew too fond of apples.
This Eden is situated in pretty lit
tie valley in the heart of the mountains,
ri an elevation some 500 feet above the
level of the sea. Water is abundant
here and consequently everything is
green, and fruit is plenty. The valley
is full of vineyards, with pOmegranateS
and fig trees, and olive and mulberry
plantations, and overlapping the whole
can be seen some immense walnut trees
that look rs old the world.
As am writing these lines, sitting on
camp-stOol in front of my tent, L can
see the whole population of Ehden col
lected around our camp staring at us.
Young and old, men, women and chill
dren, are pressing forward to have
good look at US; ond some of these
wild children of Eve have climbed up
the trees to have the luxury of birds
eye view of our camp. Long before we
reached our camping ground the news
had been brought that a caravan of
people from beyond the mountains, and
perhaps. oh wonder! from beyond the
sea, was coming to camp in their oasis.
The news spread like wildfire among
the tribe, and there was a general rush
for the best places to see us come in
and get off our horses. The women
left off their work in the fields, the men
left off playing on the reed-pipes, and
the children left off crying to see us
coming. Barnum'S circus arriving in
village ''out west never created such
sensation as we did on approaching this
earthly paradise. AS we filed past
through this aisle of human beings, we
were greeted with shouts and mock
salutationS. The women giggled, the
men smiled, the children roared at the
queer figure we cut in our European
costumes. two ladies with us were
made the objects of a very popular
ovation.
The green goggles which some o my
companions wore seemed to raise the
enthusiasm to the highest pitch, and
many a swarthy finger was raised from
among those Arabs, pointing to these
green goggles, while the women called
to each other and raised their children
in their arms to make them enjoy the
treat. Meantime my friends, quite I'M
conscious of their great popularity, did
not know what to make of all the
crowd. But as we drew near the tents
and | helped Mrs. Z. off her horse. the
crowd pressed so much on us that Hall
and his men were obliged TO drive them
off, and to have ropes stretched around
our camp to keep the intruders out.
Here with plenty of elbow room | en-
Joy the scene, which, indeed, is very
picturesque. When the excitement had
somewhat subsidized, strolled out to en-
Joy the gorgeous sunset. The western
sky was all aglow with luminous tints
of orange, pink and purple. This glory
lasted but a minute, and all was hushed
in the gray tints of evening.
Later in the evening some young men
and young women were admitted in our
dining room tent. These Arab women
were dying with curiosity to see and
handle the clothes of our lady friends.
Velvet seemed to attract their attention
and admiration more than anything
else, save perhaps our watches and
gloves. The gloves, especially, seemed
To puzzle them. The countess took out
her repeater and made it strike for
them. They seemed delighted, just rs
little children would be, with the sound
of the tiny bell. Some of these pretty
Arab girls asked me, through our drag
oman, If all the ladies in our country
were like the two that were with us. |
told HALL 10 ask these girls what made
them ask that question. They answer
ed with Il giggle and Il shy look from
their roguiSh eyes, IF they are all SO
large it must be very hard work for
the poor horse to carry them"