Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-05-01
THE QUAINT ARTIo LEGEND
Russian Tradition About the Lost
Tribes of Israel.

An article referring to the reputed find
ing of the north pole by Explorer Nanseu
published in the Atlanta Constitution
says that people speaking the Hebrew
language live there and are supposed to
be members OF the lost tribes of Israel
In this connection it may not be inappro-
pirate to recall an old legend extani
among the orthodox Jews Of Russia re-
garding this subject, and which confirms
the report of the explorer.
Years and years ago, so the story runs.
an exiled Jew on the bleak wilds of north
ern Siberia, in an effort to reach an over
hanging branch of a tree, placed his foot
upon log floating on the water NO
sooner had his foot touched the log wher
it seemed inspired with life and moved
rapidly off. bearing the exile away toward
the vast ice fields which were plainly Wis.
ible and plentiful toward the north. Rap
idly the current swept the log northward,
bearing with it the unfortunate Jew, who
was so benumbed with fear and cold
that he was unable to formulate plan
of escape from his perilous position.
For three consecutive days and nights
the prisoner chung to the log, passing
through towering fields of icebergs and
dashing under arches cut by the current
through the sky-scraping fields of ice.
Out into beautiful sunshine our traveller
eventually emerged. The grass was green
and the trees were CARRIED in the spiendor
of nature and birds made merry music on
every branch. People. great in numbers,
were congregated on either bank of the
stream, all dressed in holiday raiment of
the finest texture. but similar in charac.
ter to the clothing worn by our ancestors
af =
ceased to flow, the log drifted to the bank
and the almost famished and thoroughly
frightened traveller repeated for the thous-
andth time the Hebrew words "shama--
Israel" and in uncertain manner dis
mounted from the log.
The inhabitants crowded about, and
speaking in Hebrew with which language
he was thoroughly conversant) learned of
his need of food and rest, and supplied
those wants. after which they inquired
whence he came and whittier he was go
| ing. Numerous inquiries were made re-
| garding the people who lived beyond their
| circumscribed world, who in reciprocity
| informed him of themselves and their
| mode of living. which had in nowise
changed since the advent of the Christian
era.
| They worked and worshipped, even as
| did the Jew in ancient times, when Pales
tine was garden and Jerusalem the cen
| ter of civilization. The traveller learned
| that these people were the lost tribes o.
Israel, who had migrated to this goodly
country, led by the descendant of Aaror
named Joseph-who had passed ava,
| without leaving any descendants. Will
| them they had brought many of the yes
sells and much Of the paraphernalia o
| Solomon's temple and patterned thei
house of worship after this famous tenn
Pile of Jerusalem.
The traveller was told that the stream
current was active six days in the weel
and on the seventh became quiet and di'
not move, but as he was a member of
| different tribe to themselves he woul
not be allowed to remain within the coun
| try. So he was placed in a boat, whicl
was pushed out into the current and wa
borne by a circuitous route back to 81
IBERIA. Afterward he was pardoned, re
turned to Russia and told his adventure