The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-05-12

turbans and striped camel-hair robes.
We halted at Ramleh and making lit
tie detoetr passed through a winding
cactus avenue, growing so thick as to
hide the country on either side, and so
tall as to form arches over our heads,
until we reached the famous Mameluke
tower, which we assembled in order to gain
the splendid view which its summit com
mands. Were description my forte 1
would show you Sharon as | saw it, with
the shining Mediterranean on the west
and the purple fringe of mountains on
the east, with the six or seven villages
which are sprinllled over the intermediate
expanse, and the olive plantations with
their ashen leaves quivering in the sun
light. But we must hasten on to Lydda,
where we halted again and rested an
hour or two, and had time to remember
that this was the ancient Lod, the home
OF the Benjaminists after the captivity.
and the place where Peter healed Kneas,
who "was sick of the palsy and from
which. because LYDIA was nigh unto
Joppa, he was summoned to the latter
city by the bereaved friends of Dorcas.
The Impenitent Thief.
We encamped for the night at Latrtn
name of evil omen Our dragoman
put our tents in charge Of the road-guard
OF the government stationed there and
we retired to sleep after the fatigues of
the day by nine o'clock. Between mid
night and day break 1 was awakened by
a rustling noise, but as the mules were
plcketed near my tent, concluded that
one of them had probably got loose, and
had brushed against it in passing by
Suspecting nothing, 1 was asleep again
In few moments But the next morning
when | arose | discovered that the side
OF my tent opposite the door was slightly
raised from the ground, and my trunk
and satchel gone | called the dragoman
and asked him what had become of my
luggage. He took in the situation at a
glance, and rushing out without making
any answer. / soon heard him in a loud
and angry alteration with the govern
ment soldier who had undertaken to
guard our camp. Then came a great out
cry among alt the servants and muleteers,
and they scattered in all directions over
the hillside above our tents. By the
time | was dressed one of them called to
me that the trunk was found, about a
hundred yards from the tent. I fastened
to the place, and found it open and my
satchel also. All the contents had been
taken out and replaced again in disorder,
every box and parcel had been opened
nothing in the way of clothing had been
taken, but little bucksllin purse contain
ing 81 gold sovereigns; another purse in
which | had deposited some uncurrent
coins, gathered during the journey, and
several pairs of Egyptian sleeve-buttons |
had purchased as SouUe1,i1;S of Cairo, my
opera-glass my watch, and few articles
OF trlttlng value, were missing 1t was
evident that the robbers were in search
of nothing but money and such things as
could not readily be identified. 1t was a
very bold affair, and as well managed as
II 1T had been done by a London or New
York professional burglar. When the
alarm was given, it was discovered that
two other tents had been entered-the
stakes, to which the cords which fastened
the canvass to the ground were attached,
had been pulled up on one side, as mine
had BEEN and the clothing in Mr.. Hol-
combs tent was scattered about, but
nothing had been taken. 1t is probable
that the robbers entered the other tents
first, but as two persons were in each, it
was more hazardous to attempt to remove
any thing from them, but as I was alone
in mine, the chances were better, as the
result proved. The guard was arrested,
but none of the missing articles were found
on him. He was taken along with us
under the escort Of two officers, and thus
our cavalcade was unexpectedly increased,
from Is to 10 souls-that is, if the soldier
was the thief, and if he had any soul
though trust he was not the thief. have
said that the village of Latrdn had a name
of evil omen. In the middle ages we are
told that robbers had their haunts in the
hills near by, and that "Latrdn is a cor
ruption of the Latin word which means a
thief. The tradition is that it was the
birthplace Of the penitent thief ('' bonn
lHtronls J.; the fact is, it is the home OF
thieves, but their penitence is not yet
made manifest.
| would not have mentioned this affair
Of the ROBBERY at all, only the news of it
quickly spread among the English and
American travellers in Palestine, and
nearly every one l meet asks me some
question about it, and as I happen to
lypou- tbat y,arcOne bo,-o n 80 i 80 -; b.