The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-08-28


had shotgun strapped to his back.
without which he said he never passed
over that wild road, and / kept as close
to him as a brother for the rest of the
way. after his assurance that the average
Bedouin had a wholesome respect for the
man who carried gun and was not slow
in using it. However, we made the trip
without interference of any kind, al
though to go over that mountainous path
alone would be enough TO brighten man
to death, even If he knew it was unin-
habited, for a more desolate, forbidding
country il is not possible to conceive.
This Is the barren region where, In
those days, came John the Baptist, preach
ing in the wilderness OF Judea, and saying:
Repent We, the kingdom of heaven
is at hand" Mat. iii, p 1t has
been we'll described as a "dreary,
repulsive, horrible solitude" and it
is not hard TO comprehend that
the early Jewish prophets, who fled TO its
wild caverns and bleak hills, partook
somewhat in the character OF their writ
ings and religious teachings Of the severity
and desolation that surrounded them.
These awe-inspiring mountain rocks and
gorges are dotted with caves and holes
high up in the most inaccessible places
where religious hermits and enthusiasts,
fleeing from the haunts of men, have
taken up their wretched and solitary
abode, ''iar from the madding crowd.
Among the most rugged and uninviting
OF these yawning ravines is the george of
Cherith' where Elijah the prophet Is said
to have sought seclusion at the command
OF the Lord and been fed by the ravens
who Drought him bread and flesh in the
morning and bread and flesh in the even
ing and he drank of the brook" Il Kings,
xvii, g. After beautiful view of the
Dead sea, the valley OF the Jor-
dan and the magnificent mount
aims of Moab beyond, we descend
into the plain OF jericho and stop for a
cool and refreshing drink at the "Aines-
Sultan" or Fountain OF Elisha" the
spring that the prophet "healed" and
made good when "the men OF the city" of
Jericho appealed to him, saying, THE
water is naught and the ground barren"
q Kings, ii, 1917. This is one of the best
authenticated biblical sites, and there is
little question that it Is the identical
spring of Elisha above referred to, and as
We had been riding all day under a
scorching sun, the cooling draught
from its waters, made sweet and
wholesome by the words of the
prophet, called forth our choicest
blessings on the memory OF the holy man.
Above the spring the site is shown of the
house of "Rahab, the harlot," and her
family the only human beings spared by
the merciful Joshua when he captured
Jericho by blowing down its walls with
his rams horns and utterly destroyed
all that was in the city, both
men and women, young and old"
l I,- -, Ia, .,
man after the Lords own heart, as we are
taught to believe, but l confess that it is
hard to accept the doctrine that a Just
God could look with much favor on the
SLAYER of babes at the breast and children
in the cradle, sparing only the life of
traitress and harlot out OF all the city's
population. whose only ohense was the
desire to seize their lands and worldly
possessions. 1t is not difficult under the
circumstances to find sympathy with the
descendants and relatives of these poor
people, the Canaanite refugees, who
when driven from their homes, according
TO ancient Roman authority, erected the
pillar at far away Tangiers, whereon was
inscribed the cruel Indictment: eve are
the Canaanites; we are they that have
been driven out OF the land of Canaan by
the Jewish robber, Joshua"
In the neighborhood OF the Ain-es-Sul-
tan there are a few scattered mounds and
remnants here and there, all that is left of
the great capital of Canaan that stood here
previous to its destruction by the Israel
ties and the later curse placed by Joshua
upon any that should rebuild it. Its To-
cation was most beautiful one, with the
clear outlines OF the mountains of Moab
and Gilead for a background, with their
charming but Understandable tints OF light
ness rising far away beyond the Jordan,
and vet in this deceptive atmosphere APP
pearing so close as almost to be within
touch. By the way, there is nothing in
Syria more remarkable than this peculi-
arity of the atmosphere that enables one
to see points at an immense distance, and
yet apparently so near as to be only few
miles away.
Towering high above old Jericho stands
the "Quarantania." the "high mountain"
which is alleged 10 be the scene of the
forty DAYS fast and the Savior's temp
tation by the devil. It's top Is now
occupied by "a community Of Greek monks
who spend the greater portion o. their
time in fasting and prayer and never in
dulge in meat or animal food of any kind
Another one of the sights about Jericho
is the Tower OF Zaccheus," which is sup
posed to cover the spot where Zaccheus
'cimbed up into a sycamore tree" to see
the Savior as He passed through Jeri-
cho" luke xix, 2.) Continuing on lit
tie further beyond the fountain through
the thorny "Nubk" and "Balm OF Gilead"
bushes we come to the wretched Arab
village of New Jericho, where we are glad
to alight at the neat little hotel of our
host, Mr.. Ungar. The proprietor informs
us that he has not established his hostelry
here without difficulties, the Arabs steal
ing everything they could lay their hands
on, besides making several night attacks
on his house during the past summer.
could hardly make claim to a feel
ing of exhilaration when he pointed
out two round holes in the window panes
of nv room and informed me that they
were made by bullets during the last OF
these raids, in which some of the attack
ing party were badly wounded by rifle
in the hands of his plucky Greek man OF
all work. However, in the interest of the
and the enjoyment OF COM
Portable quarters. we soon lost all thought
OF unpleasant considerations and like
David's messengers, after their unpleas-
ant shaving experience at the hands of
the ''son of Nahash," as described in First
Chronicles, were ready TO obey the royal
command, "Tarry at Jericho until your
boards be grown" WILL E. ENGLISH.