Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-09

OF the spring evidently irrigated a large
extent Of the plain, and near by
traces OF ruins, apparently Byzan-
tine. Here are pillar shafts, cornlces,
capitals, and other indications OF CITY
{ of later date than those we nave oeeh con-
sidering
The site OF the Jericho Of Herod, which
existed at the time Of Christ, was at the
mouth OF the Wady helt, deriving It's Wa
ter supply from that stream, and more
than a mile from Ain es sultan. Here
there are the remains Of bridge, founda-
tions OF buildings which were evidently
Roman work. and two large artificial
mounds. in one Of which was found rec
tangular chamber, the outer wall built OF
sun-drled bricks, and the interior OF I'M
dressed stones cemented over.
The site Of the third, or Crusading Jeri-
cho. was probably identical with that on
which the modern village Of Jericho now
stands; but no ruins Of importance re-
main there, though the whole surface Of
the plain between the sites OF the three
JerIchos is covered with remains which
attest the denseuess OF the population
which once Inhabited it. That this should
once have been large inhabited centre
must ever appear an astounding fact 10
the modern traveller who has suffered from
the heat Of the plain. Except during the
NihNNi HAOnAAn All AliH ANAlOl - uhN OHtE
unbearably hot, but most insaluDriOus.
The very Arabs desert it for the hilsides.
IL 10 possible that neglect aud inattenti0n
TO irrigation works may make the climate
much less healthy than it was in former
times, but nothing can be changed In TIE
matter OF temperature, and either the pop
ulation mustbaye deserted 1t for the noun
tains during summer or they must have
been far better abie 10 bear heat than their
degenerate descendants. sunk nearly
1900 feet below the level of the sea, and
shut ia from all breeze by lofty ranges OF
barren mountains on both sides, jericho
in summer must be one Of the hottest
places on the eartb's surface. Even Je-
rusalem, which is 4,0G0 feet above
it. IS pretty warm. On the other hand,
Josephus vaunts the wonderful fertility
OF the place, and calls 1t "a region iii for
the gOds'
Its magnificent and extensive palm
groves were celebrated, but these have
disappeared since the eighth century, and
there is only one date tree left. sun The
abundance OF theI water, the richness Of the
soil, and the warmth OF the climate. won
dertully adapt it to the growth OF all trOp-
zeal produce. All kinds Of vegetables are
in season all the year round. Grapes,
which are trelllsed on high poles, as in
Italy, grow to enormous size; ind 90. cot
ton, and sugar would all flourish, but
there are no people to cultivate them.
The remains OF the old aqueducts testify
to the skillful manner in which the an
clients used their abundant water supply
for the irrigation OF this extensive plain
l counted altogether nine different ancient
aqueducts. One or two Of these are still
utilized, and Of late years a handsome
bridge has been built 10 connection with
one Of them, but the engineering skill Of
the ancients holds its own witH our more
modern constructions. Many Of the bridges
by " hioh these aqueducts span the "a
vines are very handsome. Some are on two
tiers Of arches, one above another. In
places they are tunneled through the hills.
One bridge Of massive masonry Of large
stones is 100 feet long and 80 feet high,
with pointed arches. There is one aque-
duct eight miles long, consisting Of a ce-
mented channel two feet broad, and ter
minating IN handsome cemented cistern.
It Is carried over several bridges, one 80
feet long and 30 feet high.
mention this system Of aqueducts be-
cause l have never seen any account OF
Jericho in the records Of travellers or in
guide books which does justice to them
They are important as showing how much
money must have been spent in develop
ing the resources Of this plain, and what
garden it must have been in old times So
late as the thirteenth century we hear
that the sugar cane was cultivated around
Jericho, and / believe that at this day
there are few spots on the earth's surface
which could be turned to more profitable
account. Here all the products of the
tropics could be raised without having to
20 10 the tropics Tor them, and many
fruits could be conveyed from here to
European market, which it would be inn
possible to preserve for the length of time
which is now required TO transport them
from the tropics. At a comparatively
small expense the ancient system ofacque-
ducts could be repaired and the abund-
ant water supply utilized, which is now
lett 10 stagnate in marshes and breed
fever and pestilence. 1t Is. In fact, i'm
possible TO appreciate the magnificent ca
pabilltee which this plain possesses and
not feel cOnyiqced that in these days OF
civilized enterprise the question OF their
development Is only one OF time.