The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-08
LIFE IN JERUSALEM.
Dr. Gillette Tells the Tippecanoe Club About
His Travels in the East.

The Tippecanoe Club met in the Mayors court
room yesterday afternoon, there being about
fifty present, the largest attendance for some
seventy-seyen years old, read paper on a trip
made by him to the Holy Land, many years ago..
He entered the service of the government as a
midshipman on the ship Delaware of the United
States feet in the Mediterranean, under Commo-
dore Patterson who was charged with diplomatic
relations between the govf rnment of the United
States and Mehemet Ali, Pacha of Egypt, who,
at that time ruled over Palestine. The Pacha
required the governor of Jerusalem to extend
courtesies and protection to the Commodore's
party. The party arrived at Jerusalem after
having travelled the backs of diminutive
donkeys for twenty hours on a stretch,
from Joppa, where their ship was at
anchor. The governor of Jerusalem
had provided house for the entertainment of
the party there being public houses there at
that time A mattress was furnished each one,
but they were found to be so filled with vermin
that all slept on the bare roof of the house, in
preference. They afterward learned that the
Governor had ordered the owner Of the house to
vacate for them, and that the mattresses were
seized from Arabs for the occasion.
Towns in the Holy Land, from distance. ap-
pear very picturesque and beautiful, but on
entering them they are found to have
very narrow streets, from six to ten feet.
and very dark, damp and filthy. The houses of
the Arabs are mud-colored, hat-roofed tene-
ments and their monotonv is only occasionally
broken by whitewashed house belonging to an
Armenian or Turk
The trip through the country led through mar
row passes and defles, which bore the marks of
former contention. there being numerous re-
mains of old castles and defenses, and it re-
quired vigilance all the time, the very nature of
the country making it the home of the mountain
robber. Frequently firearms and swords were
drawn in order to prepare for defense, and it
was not long until good part of the pilgrims
had seen enough OF Palestine to satisfy their
curiosity
On arriving at Jerusalem they found it even
more diiapidated than usual, an earthquake hav-
ing only couple of weeks before done consider
able damage. and Immediately after the town
had been subjected to plllage.
A wall from twenty-five to seventy feet high
surrounded Jerusalem, but after the earthquake
the besiegers came through a break in the wall
and opened the main gates The houses were
fat-roofed, musty affairs, the lower story being
invariably stable and kitchen combined, and the
upper story and roof, the sleeping apartment
The title to property was insecure that when
house got out of repair instead of fixing it. the
occupant moved out to be followed by some one
who could stand more filth and squaior. The
town was interesting only in connection with its
Bible history.
The governor of Jerusalem was man who
had once been a noted robber. living in the
mountains and having very strong following.
For this reason his friendship was sought by the
government and he was appointed governor.
He asked great many questions about America,
and, on being told about cities and large steam
ers, he was incredulous, and the interpreter said
he gave US the name of the lying Americans.
Mount Calvary, of the Bible, was not a noun
tain, but very large rock, where the Romans
used to execute their prisoners
The club adjourned, to meet on the Attn Of Au-
gust, at Broad Ripple, at the old settlers meet