The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-10-16

of Zabulon, almost lifting us out of the
saddle and binding us so at times that we
could hardly see which way we were GO
ing. We stopped at noon for luncheon at
an Arab khan about half way distant, and
Sasoor again protested that we should re-
main there and give up the attempt until
the conditions were more favorable, but l
was obdurate and he resigned himself to
his fate, with the remark that we should
both "be dead within week" as a result
OF that days experience. AS we rode
across the level plain of Esdraelon, in the
afternoon, our horses were constantly
stepping into the dangerous holes and
washouts made in the soft ground by the
numerous pools which had gathered as a
result of the continuous rainfall, some
times going almost up to their bodies and
requiring the greatest care to avoid being
pitched over their heads into the mud and
water as the poor animals stumbled and
houndered along. At one point where
our path lay through a long shallow
stretch of water, "AIahsoud," the donkey
that carried our baggage, suddenly fell
into one of these holes and disappeared in
the dirty pool, carrying with him his rider
and my valise and other travelling appur-
tenances. For the moment didn't enjoy
bCCllG my IOSHtScAOllo lllus unLClCAllbuA-
ouslv "doused," but Hamed cut such a
sorry figure as he Topped about in the wa
ter and spluttered and swore in choice
Arabic that even Sasoor smiled like true
Christian for the only time during the en-
tire day, and 1 reared with delight after
the manner of gentle, kindly humanity
that always finds such excruciating pleas
ure in other peoples nlishaps. Hamed
was the only fellow that didn't seem TO
recognize that the occasion was one for
hilarity-in fact it wasn't exactly his time
to laugh. However, even he was inclined
to forgive our smiles and be good-humored
as we saw the bold front of Mt. Carmel
rising high before us and knew that our
trying days journey was about ended.
This grand mountain, so renowned in bib
lical story, here separates the broad plains
of Sharon and Esdraelon, and the little
city of Caifia or Haifa nestles at its base
on the south side of the gulf of Acre.
Across the gulf upon the other shore lies
the seaport of Acre, famed in the annals
of the Crusades, and beyond 1t, further
along the Mediterranean coast, are the an
cient Phenician cities of Tyre and Sidon.
Mt. Carmel is frequently spoken of in the
scriptures and is especially associated with
the history of the Prophet Elijah and his
faithful follower, Elisha, and the natives
always refer to it as the "Jebel Mar Elyas"
or ant. OF Elias" The Carmelite monas-
terry that covers the cave in which Elijah
is supposed to have taken up his residence
stands in a conspicuous position far up the
steep mountain path, and the monks as
sert that this sanctuary has been contin-
uously in the hands of holy men ever
since that time, being occupied by the
sons and descendants of the prophet pre-
vious TO the Christian era. 1t is said that
early prolane writers refer to it in this
connection and that Pythagoras and Taci-
tus both paid the site visit. 1t was on
this sacred mountain that Elijah tri-
umphed over the heather prophets of
Baal" after gathering "all Israel unto Mt.
Carmel" to witness the sectarian contest
in which each 'called on the name" of
their respective Gods for aid. and when
the PRAYERS of the Hebrew seer prevailed
and ''the fire of the Lord fell and consumed
the burnt sacrifice" upon the altar which
he had erected, the multitude at his COM
mand sliced upon the flour hundred and
fifty" unfortunate priests of Baal and
"Eliiah brought them down to the brook
Kishon," which winds its way through
the plains below, land slew them there
After these pleasant religious proceedings
had ended to his satisfaction the prophet
gave the king and the assembled people
still further confirmation of his miracu-
lous powers by sending "rain upon the
earth" latter many days" of sore fam
inc" and long-continued and disastrous
drought "And Elijah went up to the
top of Carmel; and he cast himself down
upon the earth, and put his face between
his knees, and he said to his servant: Go
up, now look toward the sea, and he went
up and looked. AMI said: There is moth
ing, and he said: Go again seven times,
and it came to pass at the seventh time,
! that he said: Behold, there ariseth lit
tie cloud out of the sea, like a mans hand
and it came to pass in the mean
while that the heaven was black with
clouds and wind, and there was a great
rain" II Kings xviii Judging from our
own personal experiences we were strong
| ly inclined to believe that the spirit OF the
prophet was still at work in that i'm edi-
ate neighborhood, as this vivid description
of "a great rail-" exactly fitted the situa-
ton on the eventful day that we first
/ sighted the historic mountain. After Eli
| iah's death his prophetic successor, Elisha,
1 came to reside for a time in this same
/ place, and here it was that the grief
l stricken "Shunammite" mother, seeking
/ the restoration of her dead son, "came
unto the man of God to Mt. Carmel" III
/ Kings iv, 25.) Dismounting at the neat
little hotel located in the center of the
German religious colony, which has for
some time been established at Caiffa, re-