Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-01-14

A VISIT TO ITS REPUTED sIrE-ITs LOCATION
AND APPEARANCE.

A VISIT TO ITS REPUTED sIrE-Ir5 LOCATION
AND APPEARANCE.
A couple of hours ride over most wretch
ed bride path, up and down rugged noun
tain passes, brought us TO this charming oasis
called 'Ehden." The Arabs assured us this
spot was the real Garden of Eden, and judR-
ing from the intense curiosity they evinced
concerning 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 little valley
in the heart Of the mountains, at an elevation
of some 5000 feet above the level of the sea-
Water is abundant here, and consequently ev-
erything is green and fruit is plenty. The
valley is full of Vineyards with pomegranates
and fig trees, and olive and mulberry planta-
tons, and overtopping the whole can be seen
some immense walnut trees that look as old
as the world.
As l am writing these lines, sitting on q
camp-stool in front of my tent, 1 can see the
whole population Of Ehden collected round
our camp staring at us. Young and old, men,
women and children, are pressing forward TO
have good look at US and some of these
wild children Of Eve have climbed up the
trees to have the luxury of bird's-eye view
OF our camp. Long before we reached our
camping- ground, the news had been brought
Nhee "a NoiaNah VI RcOBlb lIOu DtyOuu tQo
mountains, and perhaps, oh wonder from
beyond the sea- was coming to camp in their
oasis
The news spread like wildfre 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 of playing on the
reed pipes, and the children left of crying, to
see us coming Barnum's circus appearing
in village "out West" never created such q
sensation as we did on approaching this earth
ly paradise. As we filed past through this
aisle of human beings, we were greeted with
shouts and mock salutatons. The women
gggled, 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 very popular ovation.
The green goggles which some of my COM
panions wore seemed to raise the enthusiasm
of the crowd to its highest pitch, and many
a swarthy finger was raised from among those
Arabs, pointing to those green goggles, while
the women called to each other, and raised
their children in their arms to make them en-
JOY the treat. Meantime my friends, quite
unconscious of their great popularity, did not
know what to make of all this crowd. As we
drew near the tents, and helped Mrs. E. of
her horse, the crowd pressed so much on us
that HALL and his men were obliged 10 drive
them of, and to have ropes stretched around
our camp to keep the intruders out
Here, with plenty of elbow room, enjoy
the scene, which indeed is very picturesque.
When the excitement had somewhat subsided,
| strolled out to enjoy the gorgeous sunset.
The western sky was aglow with luminous
tints of orange, pink and purple. This glory
lasted but minute, and all was hushed in
the gray tints of the evening
Later in the evening some young meR and
young women were admitted to our dining
room tent. These Arab women were dying
with curiosity to see and handle the clothes
and trinkets of our lady friends. Velvet
seemed to attract their attention and admira-
tion 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 as little children would be with
the tinkle of tiny bell. Some of these pret-
ty Arab girls asked me, through our drago-
man, if all the ladies in our country were like
the two that we're with us. l told Hall TO
ask these girls what made them ask that ques-
tion. They answered, with giggle and shy
look from their roguish eyes, IF they are all
so large it must be very hard work for the
horses to carry them."-COr Chicago AM-
dHce