The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1901-06-12

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seemed long road indeed. Rut oh, how
/ hot ii was down there. All day we had
been famed by cool breeze as we can
tered over the way from Nazareth thro'
Cana, past pleasant pastures and geern
fields. But now we are descending be-
/ Low sea level, as at the Dead Sea, and also
as at that place get the full benefit of a
tropicaI sun. Ai(er lunch we walked
| through the narrow, crooked streets of
walled-in Tiberias, now as fanatic in its
Mohamedanism as il was in Christs time
in Judeism. few Jews were seen
with their cork-screw curls, but the
mosque with its minaret indicated the
real power there. The most wierd un-
earthly sound ever heard is the Muez-
zin call to prayer. Time after time
have heard il from these minarets and il
always startled at first 1t is unlike any
other sound. While at lunch the call
went forth but we could not see much re-
sponse. While many Mohamedans are
devout and spread down their mats and
20 through their uevotions regardless of
surroundings, others are inditfel ent and
the call to prayer falls ON unheeding
ears.
Three boats were ready to take us up
tine Lake. We had hoped for sail on
these waters. The sails are so strangely
arranged-like those on the Nile. The
sail is fastened to long pole which in
turn is fastened to an upright post about
/ fifteen feet high AFTER the manner of the
"old oaken bucket that hung in the
WE'LL" Once breeze sprung up and the
sail was swung out while some of us
/ thought of the fierce storms that sudden
ly swept down the deep water, but said
nothing. 1t was false alarm and the
men had to row the whole distance.
We landed at the site of Capernaum,
or at least what passes for that. Caper-
naum, Bethsaida, Chorazin, Magdalo,
where are they? Not even the sight of
one of them is known, not one thing left
to indicate where they stood. What an
awful curse they brought on themselves
also thought of another thing as sat
in the boat and looked out over the land
scape which to the northwest has gentle
slope and is green to the waters edge.
Here were once thriving commercial
cities, with their thousands of peo-
| pie on the great line of commerce
between the east and the west. Now it
is all waste, bowling wilderness. on
the supposed sites a few monks have
built houses, surrounding them with a
stone wall, and entertain visitors who
look in vain for evidences of the exist
ence of those once highly favored cities
blessed by the presence and teaching of
our Lord. An old acquaduct,4 4 feet square
cut out of the solid rock, but now used
for a road gives evidence of past enter
prise and life. We spent the afternoon
on theiwater, and visiting these Monks
| dwellings. As the evening began to
draw on we rowed to where our camp
had been pitched on the northwest end.
After a refreshing bath in the cool water
and picking up some shells and pebbles
we went to our tents to prepare for din
ner and nights rest.
This location for the camp was chosen
rather than 60 back to Tiberias and ride
along the lake seven miles the next
morning. 1t was not considered very
safe as the wild Bedouins infest these
parts, each one with gun strapped on
his back and big club in his hand. The
night was warm and after dinner we sat
inside the circle of tents and sang what
hymns we knew touching on the place.
The favorito one was:
"Oh Galilee, sweet Galilee,
Where Jesus loved so much TO be-"
The next morning we took up ouT
march again over some rough roads and
arid country. In the midst of this will
| derness we came to the, ,Rothschild's Jew.
ish settlement. Which was like an oasis
in the desert. 1t is quite village of 2OC
or 300 houses with all that Indicated com.
fort and plenty. They had wagons, the
iii9e "p nav SOoh III dlbsllit, anu VI
course must have roads, also the first we
had seen that would bear the name, ex.
| cept one. Beautiful groves of olive, fig
and other fruit bearing trees abounded
On either side Of the road were planted a
/ beautiful shade trees and also row o.
hedge. To complete the homelike ap-
pearance Of things barbed wire fence
was built all along the road. 1t looked
/ like American wire and we all saluted il
with a shout. What curious creatures
we are, going abroad to see foreign things
and then going wild over the sight of a
barbed wire fencei It may indicate a
mental weakness but the fence looked
good just the same.
We came to flour mill run by foun.
tain that flows in the waters Of Merom
Within fifty feet of its source this stream
had force enough to run a half dozen
mills This was the first of these won
derful fountains bursting ont from the
mountain side we had seen and its size
was a marvel.
The mill was crude but had four set OF
old fashioned burs and were making
pretty good loo King flour and meal.
They were dressing one set and did it
just as millers dress them in our country.