Morning journal and courier., 1890-02-12

ly seyenty-6ve years Of age. He was resting
on couch on the floor, being sick with
tschills and fever" but arose as we entered,
greeted us cordially, assigned me divan,
the seat Of honor, and apparently overcome
with weariness, resumed his bed on the floor.
This was to be the home of one OF the
brides. Supplies had been secured for
housekeeping, consisting in part of a stone
bin of wheat, jars of olive oil and rugs and
mats for bedding. All sleep on the floor,
and no chairs, tables or bedsteads are re-
quired. One Arab, who seemed to
heve charge of the festivities, was clad in
sheepskin coat with the long white wool
ontside as originally worn by the animal.
It was simply the pelt of the sheep, kept
around his body by girdle and some other
security.
Finally refreshments were served. A large
round metallic vessel was brought in, such as
are used on washing day at Jerusalem. It
was heaped full of boiled rice, over which
posted on the floor in the center of the
room. We we're invited to draw near and
partake. which we did, using hassock in
stead of a chair. No plates, knives, forks or
spoons are required by the Arabs, since each
one helps himself with his naked hands out
of the single bowl or vessel on the floor.
Small wooden spoons wers oonsiderately
supplied the american family" and myself,
wing to our iDexperience.
The Arab, after we had been served,
showed marvellous activity in plnnging his
hands into the boiled rice, COMPRISING it in
to balls and swallowing it with an obvious
appetite, meanwhile making playful obser-
vations concerning our awkward manner Of
eating.
Finally the cry arose, "The bridegroom
cometh." A motley group of people passed
the house of the sheik in every conceivable
style of dress and decoration, including ma
inevitable white cloth covering their heads,
faces and forms.
These are spirits clad in veils
All our deep communing fails
To remove the shadowy screen.
A doleful and discordant drum was beat
en-, while single taper lighted the process
sion, over which someone held an old hat
before the feeble illumination to prevent it
being blown out by gust of wind.
We followed the procession to an adjacent
plaza which jutted out from the side of the
hall. Arabs in abiahs and in various styles
of dress sat or 1eelined on the ground in the
open air. a feeble fire glowed at the far
side of the encampment, where black, mud
dy coffee was being made. 1t was served to
| all indiscriminately, with cube of white
sugar, but no milk.
Offerings of money were made from time
| to time in small amounts, with the under
standing that the gross sum was to be divided
equally between the three brides. An Arab
with stentorian voice announced the amount
given and from whom, which kept up mon.
otonous din for an hour or two, adding,
ssAllah bless the giver." After small con-
| tribution from mo I heard the cry again,
modified to suit the occasion, "Allah bless
the A mer-i-can," with heavy and prolonged
emphasis on the closing syllable. Later one
of the natives donated an additional contri-
button in my name, as compliment, which
evoked applause from the guests.
| The marriage ceremony usually occurs at
| very early age, while mere children, in fact,
which seems very much like playing 'kesp-
| ing house, with few dolls. One lady of
the American" family, who with others of
that household accompanied US, pointing to
young girl, said: s'That girl has been married
| two years and I do not believe she is more
| than ten years old now"
just then the girl approached, and after
an introduction to me the lady repeated the
observation to her, and said, inquiringly:
| "Let me see, you are ten years old. l believea"
"Indeed," responded the offended girl quick
| ly, 81 am older than ten. am twelve" "
| with heavy and unmistakable emphasis on
l
she was but ten years old at the time of her
| marriage.
Becoming chilled with the night air, az
my heavier clothing was still on the back of
/ pack horse among the mountains in the
interior of Palestine, was compelled to re-
turn to my lodgings at an early hour, though
the festivities usually continue in some form
for three days. A jewish funeral wound ita
way along the eastern wall of Jerusalem and
across the Kedron to the western slopes of
the Mount of Olives, facing Jerusalem, as we
returned. The body was "borne of four," on
| bier. Perhaps four or five persons pre-.
osded it, one bearing lantern, others fol-
lowing. The Jews always bury at night.
The dead body is unclean and receives slight
consideration after death.
| AS far as practicable all their dead are
buried at the Mt. of Olives, 1t being be-
lieved that in the morning of the general
resurrection the dead of all the world must
pass through the earth and rise at that local
ity. Wealthy Jews, in many instances,
make provision for the burial Of their bod.
les here, even when they die in distant
lands. More than a century ago barks
| loaded with the bones of Jews were con-
veyed to Joppa, and then transported on
the backs of camels to Jerusalem for inter
ment, for the reason already stated.
By very many it is believed that the restor-
alton of the Jews to temporal power is near
at hand. The decay of the Turkish empire,
the return of many Jews from other coun-
tries, the extensive building now in pro
| gress within and without the walls of the
| city, the making fur the first time in history
of good durable and bread carriage roads,
| with recent and repeated surveys for pro
posed railroads (shough no grading has ys!
begun, nor is there mile of rails laid in all
Palestine thus far) point, in the judgmen,
| of many, to important coming events.
| Block after block of modern stone structures
are going up outside the walls, and many
costly buildings are superseding old rocker
les that have existed within the city from
time simmemorial.
This prophecy especially certainly seems
| to be in process of fulfllment in our day
When the extent and direction of the new
building are taken into consideration
! "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord
that the city shall be built to the Lord from
the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of ths
corner. And the measuring line shall yet &C
forth over against it upon the hill Gareb and
shall compass Goath. And the whole valley
of the dead bodies and of the ashes, and all
corner of the horse gate toward the east, ,ehal
be holy unto the Lord; it shall not be plucke6
up nor thrown down any more forever.
Jeremiah xxi, 38, 49, =.
The ashes, or ash heap, still remains out
side the walls little north of the Damascu
gate. Here all the ashes which accumulated
from the burnt sacrifices of the temple wer
deposited, since they were regarded a. to-
sacred to be devoted to the purposes of fer
tilization. Alternate layers of broken ston'
have kept them in their place for centurie
until recently. Now they are being carrie'
| away to be utilized in the new buildings II
process of construction.
Lepers hover constantly about the travele
begging. Even within the walls of the city
contrary to all law and precedent, grou]
of forty of them, at the ruins of the hos
pital Of the Knights of St. John, made
rush for me one morning and
~'""''7''-@=777''77.2