The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-26
PHARAOH PALACE FOUND AT LAST.
BnbyIOnian Explorer Relieves He
Has Located 1t in Petra.
From the Philadelphia Times.

Has Located 1t in Petra.
From the Philadelphia Times.
One of the most remarkable discoveries
on Babylon is that of C. A. Hornstein,
who, in his recent trip through Palestine,
unearthed what he believes is Pharaohs
palace. His discovery was made among
the cliff jewellers of Palestine on the site
of the city of Petra, or, to give it the
biblical name, Sela The city was founded
by the first-born son of Ishmael the son
of Abraham, and is therefore one of the
oldest cities of Palestine. The Nabathe-
ans, or the people of Edom, are referred
to repeatedly in the Bible, among other
passages being the invocation addressed
TO them by Isaiah, which says: Let the
inhabitants of the rock sing; let them
shout from the top of the mountain"
There are many circumstances associat-
ed with the Biblical history of the Naba-
theans which find confirmation in DR..
Hornstein's discovery, and apparently jus
tify his beliefs. There is the reference
of Obadiah, which refers to their riches
and which invokes them not to allow it
to lull them into fancied security and into
forgetfulness of God. That they were rich
and fancied themselves secure from earth
ly and heavenly attack is evidenced by
what DR.. Hornstein has found. They
dwelt in high mountain to which ac-
cess was only afforded by a narrow de-
file less than ten feet wide in places and
bordered by cliffs rising to the hight of
200 feet. From this advantageous position
it was possible to annihilate any attacking
enemy. Not only this, they could levy
tribute upon any passing caravans, and
there were many rich caravans passing
from Arabia and India to Egypt. BY this
means and the natural resources of a
rich grazing country, they undoubtedly
amassed great wealth.
Their crude dwellings grew into spacious
houses and temples cut out of the solid
rock, and where the valley widened some
what a vast amphitheater was erected
These rock dwellings present a curious
admixture of eco-Roman-E Egyptian ar
chitectures, the Egyptian carvings on the
fecades of these houses presenting a curl
GUS contrast to their Greco Roman con-
Struction.
The one building to which most interest
attaches is the one which Dr. Hornstein
thinks Is Pharaoh's treasure house. This
is a construction of a somewhat later per-
iod To which of the many Pharaohs
this belonged Is doubtful. Ii is probable
that 1T was Pharaoh Necbo, who Is men
toned in the old Testament. AT the be-
ginning of his reign he made war against
the King of Assyria. Being met on the
way by Josiah, he defeated and killed the
King of Judah at Megiddo But Necbo
was eventually defeated by Nebuchadnez-
gar. That led to the loss of all the Egyp-
ton possessions In Assyria and Palestine
Headquarters of the Pharaoh.
While Pharaoh retained possession of
this region it is believed he made Sela,
now called Petra, his headquarters in that
province He probably established a sub
treasury there to hold the tribute which
was collected from the caravan commerce,
which passed that place. The tradition
of the vast treasures once stored there
may have been handed down apparently
by the inhabitants of that region ever
since. Though the Egyptian carvings of
Pharaoh's treasure house, as well as of his
palace, were remarkable like Roman carv-
ings of later times, tradition still marks the
places where Pharaoh held sway and daz-
zled the native inhabitants by his palaces
and treasures.
The decline of the city of Petra came
when the enterprising Phoenicians found
a better commercial route for the trade
between Egypt and India. This was by
way of the Red sea and Indian ocean.
Without the caravan commerce Petra fell
into it's original desert solitude and the
Biblical prophecy of the ruin of its people
was fulfilled. So wild is the whole region
about it now that few travellers have been
able 10 explore it. The Bedouin Arabs
now live in its caves and dispute the pas
sage of the narrow chasm with any trav-
eler unless he pay large amounts
of money to them or be ac-
companed by strong Turk
ish escort Of soldiers. One daring traveller
did. indeed, manage to pass through this
ruined city some years ago in the guise
of a Mohammedan pilgrim on his way 10
the Mecca But he dared not attempt to
sketch or even linger among the ruins
to explore them
DR.. Hornstein determined to probe. il
possible the mystery surrounding these
ancient cave dwellings and Pharaoh's pal
aces. He obtained the good will of the
petty Sultan of Kerak, an ancient city
near the Dead sea, some fifty miles 10
the north. A military escort was granted
and in this way he succeeded in exploring
Petra and making photographs DR..
Hornstein's own statement of his trip to
Petra and his explorations among the an
Gent cliff dwellers IS full of interesting
details. Among other things, he says:
hn of 49,