Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1900-04-06
m PALESTINE.
Going Down From Jeru salem 70 Jericho
Ard What Vas Seen on the Wav +
Many Objects Of Interest Visited =
Letter Number IS.

Jerusalem TO Jericho, and we went
down also to see the road he Travelled.
Down" is the correct word a nd
nowhere more than at the beginning
of the journey. Passing by the New
Gate and Damascus Gate on the
north side, we descended rapidly to
the foot of the Mount of Olives, pa IS
ing in the midst of a lot of begga RS
and lepers on the way. Inquiry
concerning these brought the inf6r-
nation that most of them are ab$o-
lutelv dependent upon what they
can obtain by begging, AM their
miserable existence goes on till they
die as they have lived.
We passed the Garden OF Geth-
sernane and from it looked up the
steep side Mt. Moriah to the Golden
Gate. Then we went up, up on the
Mount Of Olives and then again went
down" to Jericho. On our way we
passed hundreds of Russian Greek
pilgrims, both men and women,
walking through slush and mud on
their way to visit holy places and to
be baptized in Jordan
The Apostles Fountain is the first
place ofinterest we reached, although
there is little that is attractive. Il The
tradition that Jesus and the disciples
drank here is quite reasonable for 1t
is directly on the road they travelled.
The next place is the Inn of the Good
Samaritan, and near by we saw the
cave where it is alleged the robbers
hid who attacked the man that fell
among thieves.
Here horses are fed and watered and
carriages are washed, there being an
extensive feed yard. Though the
Journey is only fifteen miles Ito Jeri-
cho), and three horses are driven to
each carriage, it is difficult one and
it is necessary that horses be fed on
the way.
At Jericho we put up at Hotel Gil
gal, and we Jared well, though hotel
service is strange in contrast with
that to which we have been accus
toned. We first drove out to Elisha
Fountain, mentioned in III Kings,
2:2l, and realized it's Importance
when we learned that a large tract OF
land is wholly dependent upon it tor
irrigation. A field is titled every
other year, though there is no appa
rent reason why it might not be cul-
tivated every year. To carry the
waters of the fountain strong stone
aqueduct has been constructed.
1t was the rule for all to drive
from Jericho to the Jordan river, but
it had been raining much and was
very muddy and carriages were
mired and soon overturned in the
mud Besides the Jordan was out of
it's banks and it was impossible to
reach the real Jordan. We deter
mined to do better thing-to walk
up the Brook Cherith, where Elijah
was fed by the ravens.
The Jericho of today con-
sistS of few mud huts
and some new hotels for the enter
tainment of tourists. But there was
once a splendid city here and the
first part of our tour, which was
taken afoot, was over q level plane
where once stood city worth seeing.
At every step we saw the evidences
of it. Broken pottery and other such
pieces were in abundance. Walls of
pools and aqueducts and of houses
were seen frequently. A little way
off are the remains of the great Pool of
Herod Several recent excavations
we saw have been made by the Pales
tine Exploration Fund. 1t was while
walking here that we found one of the
coins mentioned in former letter.
Brook Cherith is at the bottom of
a ravine a thousand .eet deep. We
walked along path on the north
side goiag distance of about six
miles. In the cliffs here and there
are caves to which artificial struc-
hnx Cd
inhabit them. We saw several such
homes. Al last we came to the re-
mains of an old Roman palace. The
smooth surface of mountain rock had
served as one of the walls and upon
it still adheres the plastering upon
which the colors that ornanented it
are preserved. Here, making search,
we picked up a number of mosaics
that had once formed the beautiful |
floor of this palace. Here in this, the |
wilderness of Judea, were once pal |
aces and luxuries. Two aqueducts on
the one side and two on the other |
water and we traced them |
with ease.
Going a little farther we came to a |
convent where hermit monks reside. |
Our wanderings brought US up to
the lower story of four story struc-
ture built in the cliffs. Our guide |
pulled rope, and thus rang bell,
when a monk looked out and |
down from above, and, see
ing us, came down, unlocked
the door and admitted us. The room
into which we entered contained two
donkeys, and from it we assembled
two flights of stairs and then went
into the chapel where the monks
we're performing their religious cere-
closing by going about kiss
ing the pictures and images in the
chapel We were taken to recep-
ton room and rested on divans, and
excellent refreshments were brought
to US. Leaving here, we crossed to
the other side and returned to Jeri
cho, but so late as TO be quite dark.
Ia the darkness suddenly we heard
\ growl of an animal not more than
fifty feet away, and our guide said at
once, that 5 hyena, and began
lighting matches TO brighten it away.
Another growl moment later
showed US that it had receded from
Is. and we were willing to excuse it
or not coming closer Hyenas are
7ery numerous here and we saw sew
raj hides of those that had been
killed
Next day, on our return to Jeru-
allen, we saw Bethany and visited
he tomb of Lazarus, which is quite
veil down in the rock Also saw the
emains of the House of Simon, the
Ieper, and the house of Martha and
.lary. OF course we look at such
faces OF repute from curiosity, bat
ave no confidence in their genuine
esS, though they may be genuine.
ELLwooD Q. ELLIS.