The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1901-06-19
On the River Jordan.

est and is crossed by an old Roman
bridge that is almost unapproachable
from either end. Certainly two
wheeled vehicle never passed this way
and yet they speak ofwar chariots. This
stream, the Haspena, is not large even at
this point, Passing ON some distance
along the foot of the Hermon Mountains
we come to the great fountain of Dan, a
raging torrent at once where it leaps full
iledged from the mountains side. We
sat down under an oak OF Bashan with
its large spreading limbs all cDvered
over with rags, or native oileringS,to rest
and get drink of as fine water as ever
saw, This was quite near the head and
yet there were two streams each about
fifteen feet across and at least two feet
deep and so swim that it required care to
avoid being swept away. Passing on
still further we come to the third source,
Banius, This fountain is like the last
mentioned and springs from the foot of
one of the highest OF Hermon's peaks,
perhaps 10, 600 feet above sea level, This
is the site of Caesarea Phillip, and on one
OF these nearby mountain peaks the
TRANSPORTATION doubtless took place.
What a delightful place to rest and re-
fresh ourselves with lunch. The wide
spreading fig trees, the gurgling of the
mountain stream With its clear water.
the songs of birds. These are things one
learns to appreciate after having been de-
prived of them for a time. While riding
along in the heat when of coul sc one gets
most thirsty, time and again we would
hear some one say, "0h, for a drink OF
good water The !ong treeless stretches
gave no place for song birds although
storks were plenty.
One day after lunch it was so hot
looked around for a cool place in which
to rest. spied a large rock on the hill
side and creeping close under its shadow
fell asleep. LAS a rock in a weary land"
Caesarea Phillip is an old town and
the remains of the ancient wall are still
visible. We rode through the old portal,
through which all caravans and armies
from Babylon, Media, Assyria, &c, had
to pass in going to Palestine and Egypt.
This was really the key to the whole
country. On the top of precipitous
mountain just north are the ruins of an
old fortress whose foundation is said TO
have been laid by King Solomon. 1t has
played great part in the history of the
Crusaders. This ruin is said to be the
largest in the world and had within its
walls ground sufficient to raise vegeta.
bles, &c, in time OF seige, and also a
secret water supply by means of cave,
since destroyed by convulsions ofnature.
But must hurry on to the plains sur
rounding Damascus, the Oldest city in the
world, perhaps. Time does not permit
one to write at length of the snow-clad
Hermons whose hoary head has been in
sight for many days, of the rushing
Pharpar, whose waters Naaman thought
were as good as the Jordan, the continu-
Gus change of mountain scenery. All
these must be left for some future time,
as we strike the finest highway in the
world and ride over its hot bed as we
hurry into the city.
Damascus is a biblical town having
been conquered by David. From that
time on it comes up for mention, not al
ways, indeed, favorably. 1t coutains a
quarter million of people of almost every
kind of religious belief. Mohammedan
of course prevails. These Damascenes
are proud of their city largely because OF
its early high civilization and commer-
cial importance.
As is common Ia all Moslem towns,
dogs abound in great numbers. There are
two reasons for this. First, the Moslem
thinks it sin to kill dog. And you
know the Moslem is conscientious-in
small things, and again the dog is tn 2
sewer system of all Moslem cities. He is
the scavenger without which / should
think the pleague would always abound.
Nobody seems to own these brutes that
lie around as thick as flies on hot day.
AS our dragomen said. who has not mas
tered large English vocabulary yet,
they are Independent. And this is true
in both senses, nobody owns them but
they own the town. People walk around
them as they lie in the sun, carriages will
turn for them as they will not for Pc
destrian, and ] never saw one kicked or
even yelled at. The dog is king. If Da-
mascus has no sewer system she has q
splendid water plant that costs nothing.
Through her streets, and alleys, and run
ming apparently into every house glides
the swift waters of the Abana, as it rush.
es along from its fountains in the Anti
Lebanon mountains to lose itself in the
marshes on the edge of the great desert.
This thriving city, this fertile, towering,
fruitful plain, the very possibility of life
itself are because of the Abana. The
water is clear, cool and wholesome but is
best filtered before using. The whole
valley is irrigated by it and the 365 vii.
lagos of the plain all get water from it
Little wonder the Assyrian General had
high regard for it.
The city itself is ful! of interesting
sights to every visitor. A few of these
that are referred TO in the Bible, had th,
chietplace with us and we fastened tt
see them. On our way to the city WI
were shown the place where Paul haC
that wonderful vision as he was speeding
on to Damascus to persecute the chris
tians there. can understand now how
exceedingly jealous he was when it woulC
take him over that long rough road. Blu
there is one good thing about Paul. II,
did not hesitate longer and took NOR,
hazardous trips after his conversion
There was no halfway work with him.
The house is shown on the wall wher
] L. IL 4 1. i