Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-07-26

tcnt y epeCiA mlbtlOu 70 verify mOd1tcQf
Gannean's discoveries This they did most
completely. finding four other inscriptions,
besides making most complete survey Of
the place. A is not uncommon with such
very ancient remains, the finest aspect of
the spot is Disappointing. There are, in
fact, no ruins visible, with the exception o.
few terraces on the Tell consisting of
large blocks of uphewn stone. The Tell
itsesf on which part of the city appears to
have stood, is sort ofridge about 600 yards
long, 100 across. and $50 feet above
the surrounding rocky valleys.
The foundations of the ancient
houses may be traced possibly in the
numerous rock cuttings with which the
place abounds, but it is difficult to distin-
guish them from cuttings for quarrying
stole on the old method, and certainly
many Of the cuttings were those OF quar-
riers. There are the remains Of what was
apparently an old fortress at the eastern end
of the Tell, but the most remarkable fes-
lures are the numerous wine presses which
lumber about thirty, some OF them in an
excellent state OF preservation. There are
also some tombs, but these are rare and
scattered, which is to be accounted Tor by
the fact that this was Levitical city, within
the limits of which no interment was allowed.
There are numerous chips Of stone, some ap-
parently bssaltic, and much broken po'tery,al
over the Tell, and many flints, some Of which
were worked, have been discovered. While
be was building his house, which is JUS
under the Tell, Mr.. Bergheim found deep
cistern about forty feet square, lined with
small stones and covered with two coats o.
cement which was hard and white; the
walls were about two feet thick, and it
seemed to have niche in its eastern wall,
as though it had at one timebe used as a
chapel In the niche cross was found
painted red, and beneath it stone altar,
which has been removed; but all
this points to an early Chris
tan occupation. Mr.. Berghein
has since converted the cistern to its origi.
nal use. he also found curious idol in
hard red pottery. The Fellshin say that
many of these dolls" as they call them,
used to be picked up, and were given to the
children as playthings. Flint instruments,
earthenware weights, and rubbers in con-
position, for use in cementing cisterns, have
been found in plougbinR on the Tell, and
near it's southwest extremity number OF
skeletons were discovered, apparently
buried in battle; one had sword cut on the
skull. An aqueduct cutin the rock is also
traceable along the hillside.
Altogether the place is good deal more
interesting than it looks at 6lst sight, and
had its owner been an sntiqusry he wouId
doubtless have had splendid opportunities
Of making valuable collection. That the
shot has always had semi-sacred character
in the eyes of the country people is evident
from the traditions which attach Dit. One
is that the. city of Noah stood upon the hill
here, and that the deluge came from q place
called Ell Tannar, which is a cavity with an
old we'll on the east slope of the hill The
modern name Abu Shushen, or Father OF
The Topnot,' is said to be derived
from dervish who prayed for rain in time
of drought, and was told BY sand diviner
that he would perish if it came. The water
caue out of the earth and formed pool
in which be stepped and was drowned
The people seeing only his topknot cried,
va Adu Shusheh' % Father OF the Top
snot)
1t is pity that, with the exception OF the
me decipbered by Mr.. Gauneau, theinscrip
ions are 60 much efaced that although GER
tain characters can be made out, they have
hitherto defed translation. Some OF them
appear to approach to the later Hebrew
forms, while others bear some resemblance
to Cutie.
There are other sites of interest viii ch lie
more or less distant from the road from
Jaffa to Jerusalem, but had not time to
visit them, though the comparatively more
advanced state Of civilization of this prov,
ince and the good accommodation to be
found on the road would facilitate the ex,
plorer' task. On the other hand, the exam
nation Of this part Of the country has been
20 thorough that he cannot hope for the rich
rewards that are to be found in more mac
cessible districts.