Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-25

stream, and more tnan mile Ho"
Ain % Sultan. Here there are the re-
mains Of bridge, foundations OF build
ings which were evidently Roman work,
and two large artificial mounds, in one
OF which was found rectangular cham
Der, the outer wall built Of sun-dried
bricks and the interior Of undressed
stones cemented oyer.
The site Of the third, or crasading
Jericho, was probably identical with
that on which the modern village OF
Jericho now stands, but no ruins OF
importance remain there. though tho
whole surface Of the plain between the
sites Of the three Jerichos is covered
with remains which attest the denseness
of the population which once inhabited
1t. That this should once have been
a large inhabited centre must ever APP
pear an astounding fact to tho modern
traveller who has suffered from the
heat Of the plain. Except during the
winter months all this region il
not only unbearably hot, but most
insalubfious. The very Arabs de-
sert it for the hill.sides. II is possible
that neglect and ipattention to irriga-
tion-works may male The climate much
less healthy than it was in former times,
but nothing can be changed in the mat
ter OF temperature, and either the popu-
lation must have deserted it for the
mountains during summer. or they
must have been far better able to bear
heat than their degenerate descendants.
Sunk nearly 200 feet below the level
Of tho sea, and shut in from all breeze
by lofty ranges Of barren mountains on
both sides, Jericho in Summer must be
one Of the hottest places on the earth \
surface. Even Jerusalem, which j.
1900 feet above it, is pretty warm.
On The other hand, Josephus vaunis
the wonderful fatility of the place, and
ceis it Z" a region fit 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.
Still the abundance of the water, the
richness of the soil, and the warmth Of
the climate wonderfully adapt it to the
growth of all tropical produce. All
kinds ofvcgetables arc in a season all the
year round. Grapes, which are trelliced
on high poles, as in Italy, grow to
enormous size indigo, cotton, and SUI
gar would all flourish, but there are no
people to cultivate them.
The remains OF the old aqucducts
testify TO the skilful manner in which
the anc ents used their abundant water
supply for the irrigation of this extern
sive plain. | counted altogether nine
different ancient aqueducts. One or
two of these are still utilized, and OF
late years handsome bridge has been
built in 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 which these aqueducts span the
rayines are very handsome. Some are
on two tiers of arches, one above
another. In places they are tunnelled
through the hills. One bridge of mas
sive masonry Of large stones is 100
feet long and thirty-fve feet high. with
pointed arches. There is one aqueduct
eight miles long, consisting of &C.
cemented channel two feet broad, and
terminating in handsome cemented
cistern. Ii is carried over several
bridges, one fifty feet long and thirty
feet high.
/ mention this system Of aqueduct:
because | have never seen any account
of Jericho in the records of travellers
or in guide-books which does justice tC
them. They are important as showing
how much money must have been spen
in developing the resources of thi'
plain, and what garden it must have
been in the old times. So late as thu
thirteenth century we hear that thu
sugar-cane was cultivated around Jeri
cho, and | believe that at this dal
there are few spots on the earth''
surface which could be turned Il
more profitable account. Here al
the products Of the tropics could b.
rrised without having to go to the tropic
for them, and many fruits could be con
veyed from here to European market
which it would be impossible to pre-
serve for the length of time which i
now required to transport them from
the tropics. At comparatively smal
expense the ancient system Of aqueduct
could be repaired and the abundan
water supply utilized, which is nov
left to stagnate in marshes and bree
fever and pestilence. 1t is, in fact, i'm
possible to appreciate the magni6cen
capabilities which this plain possesse
and not feel convinced that in these day
: of civilized enterprise the question
: their development is only one Of time.