The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-02-25
TEE TEMPLE COLONIES IN PALESTINE

HAIrA, Palestine, Jan. 2O.-In former
letter gave you a sketch OF the origin Of the
Temple Society and OF the religious motives
which have led to tho establishment OF four
agricultural colonies in the Holy Land by emf
grants from Germany America. Russia. and
Switzerland. A have taken up my winter
residence in the principal one OF these. situated
beneath the shadow Of Mount Carmel. some
description Of tho place and its resources may
not be without interest for your readers.
know OF no locality in tho East which offers
creator attractions OF position. climate. and
association than this spot. Thanks to the Of
forts Of tho colonists. II has become an oasis OF
civilization In the wilderness OF Oriental bar-
barism. whore the invalid In search OF health.
or the tourist on the lookout for u comfortable
resting place on his travels. will find good ac-
commodation. and all the necessaries. II not
the luxurics. Of civilized life.
Throughout the whole length OF the coast OF
Palestine from Tyro to GnZa. only one deep in
dentation occurs. This is where 1t sweeps In n
curve around the old fortress OF st. Jean
d'Acrc. and terminates In tho projecting preci-
picc upon whose ledge the monastery OF Car
mol Is situated. The bay thus formed Is nino
miles across from Aero to Carmel. and about
four miles deep. 1t is bordered tho whole dis
tapcc bya smooth. hard beach. at the south
eastern and most sheltered extremity Of which
Is situated the town OF Hai!a a modern native
town. squeezed in between IN overhanging
bluff. on which arc tho ruins OF an old castle.
and the sen. II owes its origin to tho arbitrary
net OF Pasha who. about n century ago.
had rendered himself auasi-independent Of
tho Porte. and established the seat Of the
his government at Acre. Tho population
of old Haifa, situated near tho point.
having rebelled against him. he punish
ed them By razng 1t to the ground
and transported the inhabitants to the edge OF
the bay under the rock. on which he nut n
castle. while he surrounded them with II wall.
thus keeping them prisoners. When he died.
his successor was suppressed. the garrison of
the castle was removed. and the wall was al-
lowed TO fall into dsrepar. The inhabitants.
who thus were restored to liberty. accustomed
to their now location. began to cultivate the
surroundin. land and to Increase in wealth
and prosperity. Their gardens spread to tho
eastward. whore the brook Kishon. winding
through fertile plain. struggles to dcbouch
into tho sea but only succeeds ut certain sea-
sons. owing to the huge snndbars which form
at its mouth. These dam it back into small
lakes. which ARE surrounded by date and orange
groves. lius forming II most agreeable feature
in the scenery. Behind the plain rises the low
wooded range. which is travcrscd by tho road
IpatllIs 10 Nu.strrtn.
Though Hni!n Is com pnrnt lively modern there
arr, some traces of old ruins in tho town. the
wallis of AN old crusadins castle. one or two
caycrns. which bear marks Of having been in
habitrd. in the rocks immediately behind II.
ANA tho crumhlinx remains OF IN nrchway.
crusildcs. Prior to tho arrival oi the co!onists
OF the Ic,nne Society. H'itI WAS us dirty as
Throughout Thc houses. ali Constructed OF
white limestone: uuarrirs OF which abound in
tho immediate vicinity give it n clean and sub
Efn N ts,l .st l,n n mat
AM thriyIng reputation III about 5000 inhnb-
tnnts. Under the hilil cactus hedges at its
ting amid sacks of grain. hundreds OF canes.
which, attended by withholding Arabs, have
Hmnrnn. on the other sido OF the Jordan; Tor
Haiin Is srnduniy becoming one of the great
grain exporting ports OF the country. and one
or NV" steamers are generally to be seen load
ing IN the harbOr.
I.caying the town BY the western gateway. we
ride for about u milo along the sershorc be-
tween high cactus hedges. aud suddenly lind
ourtSel.rs i'pEntnniiy trnn,inr,ei INTO the hcnit
bench for about half II mile and slipping upward
for about hundicd feet IN that distance 10 tho
bnse of tho rocky sides cf Carmel. runs the viii
with doub!n row of shade trees. and behind
them II SER. cs OF white Stone houses. Of one
garden. and zach with n teN in German
engraved over tho doorway. There is another
contains t, nbonl siAty house, aud 800 nhab-
i,nnts; TIL" English. American. and German
Nlce-tinn"ulS are All toibniStS. lnere IL u
skilled physician. an architect and en-, neer il!
the colony. an excellent hotel n school. and
meeting house. The German Government
subscriics two-tii i'is ana the .coionists one
third of the funds required for tho school.
Som" Of tho coloniets are III business. and have
stores in Hniin. Iherr is also n good store in
the colony. where NJ TIE most important; trades
ARE represented Thc.r is one wind grist and
ono s:rnm mill. the inti"r IN process oi eInc-
ton. There is II ninnu.actory OF olive oil sonp
the export Of which To- Aincrirt il yearly in
crcasin9. and now amounts TO 10000 pounds.
ma nj lf,,ii ~ NJ, tlT t.k-
such Of your rcndc ms hnyc II fancy to wash
thor hands. with soap direct from tho Holy
at +. u. Nrhos'-. G2 William sirrrt There Is
also factory f3s tho manufacture of articles
from OLIVE WOp'.
Where Carmel rises abruptly from tae upper
end If tho street. its rocky Sides haze been ter.
Faced to the summit. and about u hundred
acres arc devoted to the cultivation Of tho vine.
Unfortunately the varieties which have been
iimportcd from Germany az suffer severely
United States for Concorls and some of tha
inriier American varieties. Along Ia. lower
the rugged mountain sid" leads tn. rond to the
monastery, distant nsmuta mile and a half,
Situated about 900 feot above The sen. it forms
Il conspicuous object in the landscape rs seen
from tine colony.
Tie views from tn. hous" in which l am iy-
ing are nc\er-enuing "ou.ce Of delight. To
tho east ] look over tn" native town and har-
h9r, with the date groves anh the plain Of tho
which separates il from III" plain Of Esdraclon.
To the northeast the e,e rests on the plciur-
cSilue outline VI IllN npuNtuINS oil
Palestine. with the rounded top OF Jebrl Jer-
mink rising to u height ol 4,On ieet in tho mid
die distance. and snuwc.ud Hrrmon towering
behind to n height Of 1000 feet immediately
to the north. ncros. the blue waters Of thu bay
tho white walls and milt.re!s OF Acre rise from
the margin Of the sea and beyond it the coast
line. terminating in the white. projecting clifr
known as the Ladder Of Tyre :" 10 tho north
westward we look across plain about mile
wide continuing the colony lands. and beyond
IL tho sea horizon. till we turn sufficiently to
meet Carmel blum and monastery. Behind
nj nIlsv Irlky.
ing us at this time OF tho year into shade
by 3 in tho afternoon. But even on New
Years Day We do not grudge the early alb
s.nce OF tho sun. for as l write the Their
moneter Is standing AT GG' in the shade 1t is
not. however. the fegtnres Of the scenery which
constitute Its Chief beauty. but the wonderful
variations OF light and shade. and the utmOs-
pheric effects peculiar TO the climate, which
invest II with special charm. On the plnin to
the west of the colony. which is bounded on
two sides by the SEA. on one by, the mountain
and on one by the colony, are tho traces If the
old town Of Hnifn, mentioned in the Tnlmud,
but not In the Bible; which, was besieged and
100. with ~ massive ruin OF son wall and other