Evening star., 1898-10-21
TRAVEL IN PALESTINE.
some Details of the Route Witch the
Emperor VIII Take.

r;crresp, ndence Of the Pail Mall Gazette.
Jerusalem is getting ready to receive its
distinguished visitor. At Jaffa. the port of
Jerusalem. one sees the first signs of the
preparations. In the chief streets through
, which the German emperor will pass in a
carriage every effort is being made to
patch up and make once more habitable
the great number Of the houses threatening
to fail and to give them festive appear
ance. Hundreds of people are busy i'll i'm
proving the state Of the high road leading
from Jaffa to Jerusalem; they work almost
without break from sunrise until sunset,
and thus earn. perhaps. three ptastres. or
sixpence. When the road has been made
up CGe sees wretched hacks painfully draw
ing an cid street roller which has not
been used for close upon thirty years.
The last time that this road from Jaffa to
Jerusalem was attended to in 1869.
when the then Crown Prince Frederick
William of Prussia made tour in the east.
a few kilometers further along the road
Camels and asses are carrying heavy bur-
dens of stone. which are broken up and
thrown down in the worn-out places At
other places Arab boys and girls are bring
ing uD earth in IRISH baskets carried on
their heads These baskets are filled at
neighborfng hill and the little Arabs have
10 use their hands spades, for no i'm
plements are supplied to them Behind al
these various workers the Turkish over
seer stands with lash in his hand. and
protects himself by an umbrella from the
burning rays Of the sun. Next to- him his
ass patiently stands. since it is beneath the
dignity of Turkish official to go even two
wards on foot
A mail coach travels between Jaffa and
Jerusalem. The vehicle has beer gradually
evolved from an old four-wheeled cab. and
performs the journey of just over forty
three miles in fifteen hours. In fairness 1t
ought TO be mentioned that this period in
cIudes three stoppageS of one hour each,
lllr
mules Our team consisted of one old hack
and two mules. one large and the other
very small This mOue of travelling can be
recommended for those who wish TO study
the country. Ny feIlow-travelers were
German and a goatbreeder at Jerusalem.
The latter had bought stately he goat for
his flock at Jaffa. The sitting accommoda-
tiOn was really intended Tor two persons,
hence one can imagine that journey of
fifteen hours undertaken by three men
and goat" The driver certainly did at
first refuse to take the goat as a passenger,
but a timely tip acted as the usual charm.
and he gave way. Needless to say, We had
a troubled night, and we were glad to
reach Jerusalem at > O'Clock in the morn
ing. At that early hour numberless work
men were busy with the repairing of the
road and streets. The state OF the filth in
all the streets is indescTibable.
The numerous hotels all .re9lete with
every modern comfort, will soon open
their doors after their long close sea
son. Almost all foreign intercourse ceases
in Palestine from May until October.
Countless numbers of tourists, naturally
mostly German, are expected during the
kaiser's visit. Already SO many notices of
arrival have been received that all the
rooms IN the hotels have been taken. and
many = traveller will have TO put up with
a soiOuTn in some form of tent or other
A snjOuTn in tent ought to be fashiona-
bic in Jerusalem. seeing that the German
emperor will himself dwell in a tent. as the
suitable house could be found for him at
Jerusalem. The Turkish authorities are
making every effort TO give a festive aI-
pearanCe to every object of interest that
the kaiser will visit. The old and ti;ne-
hOnOTed Temple Place. whose holy cam
is broken only By the mOnOtOnOuS ClaHt
Of the Arab water carriers as they dellVcf
their lestthern water bottles al various
houses. echoes once more with the clamor
Of worknen. who in true eastern fashion
gossip over their days work. Arches and
arabesques are being renovated. The hand
of the artist is busy reg'lding many col
urnns and polishing the marble walls and
mosaic floors OF costly work in the Mosque
Of Omar. the sanCtum sancterum of Mo
hometans. row standing on the site of
SOl0mOn's 5 temple.
The German church at Jerusalem is now
finished so far as the exterior is concern
ed. This church is to be consecrated on
october 81, in the presence OF the emperor
and empress. and Will receive the 1ame CT
THE Church of the Redeemer-" The bulls
ing material has been taken from the
neighborhOOd Of Jerusalem. The church Is
in the Gothic style of architecture, with
three aisles and two transepts. A cuDosa
at the junction of the chancel and trar-
septs viii give plenty of light to the altar
and the central nave. The slender Gothic
arches Of the central nave will be support
ed by six pillars in the Ionic stSle, "uh
gilded capitals. A soft and Christening
light is given to the church the be4utt-
full stained windows made Dy German al
lists and depicting biblical scenes. The
interior of the church is almost -Co'iy: the
chancel altar and choir seats still remain
TO be finished. The tower, which VIII be
the highest object in Jerusalem, is ON the
southern nave. The chief entrance is at
the west end OF the church.
The kaiser will also visit Bethlehem and
stay there Il little time. He has TO dedicate
there the German orphan homa which is
being rapidly pushed forward.