The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-05-27

= lle1 TO us, WHO HAY De Sdlu 10 nave peel
exiled from civilization for month past
t Having rested two days, we again started
homeward to Jerusalem. Our route as fa
as Mt. Carmel was along the sea shore
| On the first day ofour journey from Beyrou
we travelled on the beach of the Mediter
ranean. Oftentimes for miles our horse,
waded in the first breakers of the sea. Thi.
, was exceedingly interesting to me, During
the first two days we came through Sidon
and Tyre, two principal to@es along the
coast and very famous in days of old We
encamped at each of these places, and were
struck with the numerous ruined columns
of their former greatness and glory. We
next came through Jean d Acre, so famous
in history, but now mean, dirty town in
which the Turk holds himself encased
iron in strong Notifications. Opposite Jean
dAcre is the beautiful Mt Carmel, where
We rested our horses for day. Here my
boots gave out. They had to be half-soled
Now, this would have been no trouble in
America, provided one had money. But
here. with money in pocket, il was quite a
job to have them repaired walked about
, miles to village called Kaipha. Here,
by means of an interpreter, | found an
Arab who undertook the work. | looked
on in silence for nearly two hours, at the
+ end of which he pronounced them done
/ He charged me so cents without putting
on heels, but | grumbled not. | might
I have called him rogue, thief, liar. be-
cause il was 20 cents more than be bar
gained for, but my dragoman had left me,
and Mahomedan d0sen much care about
a contract. Moreover, | began 10 think.
like Falstaf, that, The better part of valor
is discretion; in the which better part, have
saved my life.
Leaving Mount Carmel we had two dis
agreeable rainy days again, but We splash
ed on through the mud; making as high as
b miles one day for we were in hurry
to get to Jerusalam. We reached Ramleh,
and one more day brought Us to Jerusalem
-our happy home again, after travelling
5l5 miles ON horseback during thirty days
The trip was fun Of the highest interest 10
Us al. as We had the rare opportunity of
seeing the places where many Of the scrip
ture scenes and labars Of our divine Lord were
accomplished We arrived here last even
ing jus, in time 20 see the ceremonies Of
Holy Week Of which may give something
in nay next writing
In passing through Palestine and Syria
ths. tourist l. struck with the want Of pro
grcss or improvement. Things are done
about the same way as they were done in
IL. r 49,. II -
Year after year for centuries the most beau
;ifal aud fertile fields lie waste because Of
the inactivity Of the government and peo-
pie 70 make them produce abundant crops
TIE great want Is fuel, but no effort i made
60 plsut trees did not see an acre of
woodland in Oh nv travels through this
country, and Judging from the cold We ex-
Ierienced ! think hrr at times Is much
ne,dei Bat the Arabs must be made Of
ira. because a few dirty rags suffice 10
cover the NEST IT them against the iuclcin-
ency IL the aearhcr The inhabitants Of
Palestine al i've in villages, aud hence we
travelled often over mil,s of well cultivated
6clds without seeing what they sznll house
here. This u dome I ana told, 20 prpsec;
thcmselys. against robbers. Each village
Is governed by shiek who has absolute
power over hfe aud death We must have
-cen several hundred II these villages
The houses are Of limestone aud show rsor
masonry They have bu; one story The
rtaf i, fat and made Of some kind II wick.
er- work covered over with Clay ur mud
When Il rains or SHOWS gpai trouble Is
caused In many INSTANCES We saw rulers
On the rsufs used for the purpose Of com
pressing the mud after rain storm. The
custom og the people Is very much like that
in Egypt No furniture In the house
Such thing as bed cs,uno; be found
among the Arabs They lie on mats or
g,lat skins They haze ~ chairs but II
down e h, stp,ir Turk We wen, intosoinc
of these rude dwellings but could see no
kitchen uteusii. Donkeys and costs, in
many instances, occupy corner of the build
ing Hence fes,s and lice by tbs million
! ana not overriding the pic,ura. The 6lth
and corruption in the streets j. simply nor
rible. There Is no such thing A. hotel
outside 81 the few cities Hence tent
Iifc i an absolute Necessity for the tourist
Outside Of iew beans aud cauljflower, the
people use NJ vegetables They have noth-
ing bat bread and meat, mostly mutton, as
his i q great country foT sheep. Man
SAINTS but little. nor that little, hong seems
10 be verified in regard to these people
Ny readers can form no idea how dirty and
all the inhabitants look The Ma
home,ians are exceedingly lazy and throw the
burden of work upon the women, theirslaves.
Il Is impossible to convey any idea Of their
lr,ss. a. scarcely two can be found alike
As the climate l. much colder than in Egypt.
more clothing is needed This Is tied around
he body in ANY shape and form. In cities
Ike Jerusalem, ,Iatia and Damascus many
# the Arab women wear thick wells Men
ire exceedingly jealous Of their wives. II
,ccomes dangerous to the stranger who
ooks with too much curiosity at them.
But after travelling two months among
hese people we are surprised to find them
% harmless Ia no instance were we mo
ested. When our tents are put up near a
'illage many would come To look curiously ,
i them Mahmood. one of our servants, I
would often bring them into our tents and ,
how our beds. tables and camp-stools, 4
Syria is far more Christian than Pales-
ine, but Mahomedanism Is the prevailing ,
fflietion. In passing through some vii 1
ages, Cana, for instance, our dragoman said {
he citizens called us dogs their common '
title for Christians. In selling things there I
: no fixed principle of price among the ma I
ives They win ask three prices for some I
hing and be content when one price is paid. a
Ut this | don't much wonder, as Turkish |
money has no standard value, \ Turkish I
ollar may be worth 80 cents to-day and !
o-morrow only - cents. Altogether the
ondition of the people is lamentable. d
| cannot close this letter, without ex- b
ressing my gratitude TO John Marcos, our
who so kindly watched over us I
nd so successfully provided for our wants a
inder his surveillance we suffered no in b
lnvenience whatever Long may he live f
conduct many tourists over the same G
)ute. In my affections he will always be e
,membered as a true hero. The most al
ighly wrought and extravagant eulogies W
re inadequate to Hashud, my noble sorrel W
eed, who carried his timid rider over such b.
xceedingly bad roads and intricate paths. q,