Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-08-04
YIsHlka IN TEE JORDAN.


My tents were pitched among the olive
trees on the banks OF the east branch OF the
upper Jordan, only q few rods below the
mighty springs at Banies, the ancient
Csesares PhilIippi. The Jordan rises from
various great springs in the west and south
west sides of Mount Hermop The vest
ern branch, which comes down the gorge
between liermon and the Lebanon range,
hows practically southwark from its source
till it comes cut or the plains above the
waters OF M.rom The Bsnias branch
springs on. OF the rocky mountain side,
at that village, descends the d ,clivity IN
| torrent, receives the flow OF the great
spring of Dan thres or fgur miles below,
then joiEs the west branch and the river
pursues It's coutse, widening iuto Mermer,
and resting again in the sea OF Galilee.
The sun was an hour above the western
hills. So took out a light rod and book
of flies and small spinners, and went up to
| the spring where the waters began their
| course. What fish might be In the river
| and what flies to- use | knew not. But it
! ia very certain that if there be any game
| fish in any river or lake judieious use Of
! flies or spinner will bring them to hand.
The cavernous opening in the PERCEPTIONS
rock of the hill, ods OF which the spring
once flowed, has crumbled, and the clear
| water gushes and bubbles ont III countless
little springs among the debris. Remains
| of pagan worship are numerous, for the
| Romans, as well as the Greek and Phoe-
nician predecessors in power, had cultiva-
ted here the reverence and worship of the
gods of the water, the woods and the lower
regions.
Turning my back on the old myths, be.
gan to whip the stream where the various
oozings of the fountains gathered in some.
what smooth flow for little. There were
a host of email fish not three inches long,
and at every cast l would take one or two.
But these young descendants of the sacred
fish Of olden times were entitled to respect,
and were carefully restored. | have al.
ways regretted that l made no careful
notes OF the characteristics of the fish
took in the sea OF Galilee and in various
parts of the Jordan. / then supposed that
they were known to the books and cata.
logued. | have since found that no one
has described the various families, and it il
subject of manifest interest. / then only
said to myself These seem to be some
Of the small fry Of the perch family" and
began to follow down the stream seek
ing larger fish. From the very start the
! river. began a series OF white plunges
winding on its course, lsshing itself into
millions of sparkling bubbles, too gay anG
evanescent to be called foam, pitching
tossing, furious. There were no places FOL
use of spinners, fly or bait. Never was 8
more noble torrent. Crossing it was i'm
possible. Down, down, down, / followed
and followed content, for the glory of such
a cataract was worth enjoying. Still this
sun went downward also over Lebanon
and the night was coming Close by the
bank of the stream / came on a group o.
Arabs, six men, surrounding small fire Of q
few stalks of grass and weeds. They well
coined stranger with frank cordiality, ane
pressed me to share their evening meal
which they were then and there about Il
eat. 1t consisted of tough flat cakes o.
bread, roasted snails and Jordan water
The sraila roasting in the ashes-big, fai
fellows. the shell nearly two inches in
diameter. Roas. snails are not at all to bt
despised. l had eaten them before. / ate
them with the Arabs now, and somewhere
have two or three of these giant shells,
kept as a memorial of the hospitality Of
Lebanon Arabs to strolling angler. High
overhead the snow.clad summit of the Sheik
mountain, Hermon of old, was glowing in
the light of the sun, which had gone down
beyond Sidon on the waters Of the great
sea. A deep gloom seemed to be pouring
into the southern view. where, away be.
tween the ranges OF hills, the gorge deep
ened downward beyond Capernaum and
Chorazin and Bethsaida, toward the sea of
death. A cold wind swept down, max
ing the Hermon dews seem ice-like in
stead of soft. Slowly, rod in hand, with
out fish, climbed the hill toward the
tents among the olive trees at Banias. The
red light faded on Hermon. 1t was dark
before | reached home; for tents are
homes, and ell our homes are at best bat
camping places -[New York Journal OF
| EnmmeIce