The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-05-23
in THE FAR EAST.
A Very Entertaining Letter From Rev.
w. l.. Bray.


have lust returned to our hotel from
walk of a mile and half, along the crest
of Carmel As we walked along the
ridge we could look down upon Medi-
terranean Sea on the one side and upon
the plain of Esdraelon on the other. The
mountain is from 1000 to 1900 feet
above the sea. As we looked up on the
plain of Esdraelon, we saw the brook
Kishon whose channel was once chok-
ed with the bodies of the Prophets of
Baal slain by the order of Elijah, and
whose waters were redeemed by their
blood, see | Hi I8:4o The Mount OF
Sacrifice" as the peak is now called, is
about 700 feet above this brook which
slowly runs, in its crooked path, through
the fertile fields of Esdraelon into the
sea, between Haifa and Acre" or
"Akkai"
Carmel has been regarded as a sacred,
or holy mount, for many centuries. In
the time of Tacitus, an altar to the God
of Carmel was said to be on the
mount, but stood in the open covered
by no roof Vespasion caused this or
acle to be consulted. All the various re-
ligious sects of this country, speak OF
Carmel as the Holy Mount"
On shelving promontory, about $50
feet above the sea, is built the Carmelite
Monastry. This monastry dates back to
the 18th century. II has been destroyed
at different times The foundation stone
of the present building was laid in 1928.
1t is occupied by eighteen Monks, who
keep a sort of hosiery for the accommo-
datiOn of travellers.
There are many kinds of beautiful
flowers on this mountain, and all over
the plains.
We are on our way to Jerusalem. We
stopped at Hiafa and took a carriage,
which was built in Buffalo, N. Y, AMI
rode in it to Nazareth and Tiberias.
The road is fairly good most of the way,
running through the plain of Esdraelon
for several miles, then over some rocky
hills, covered with a stubby growth of
scrub oak. After seeing these trees it
is easy to see how Absolem was caught
in one of the trees, and lifeted from the
back of his mule. 1t would be very
hard to ride fast through such woods.
In Nazareth we visited the church of
the Annunciation, the house of the Vir.
gin Mary, her kitchen, Joseph's house
and shop, in which Jesus learned his
trade.
We also went into the Synagogue, in
which Jesus gave the discourse men
toned in the 4th chapter of Luke's Cos
pei; from which we went to the brow
of the hill" that they might cast him
down headong
We also saw a large flat rock, nearly
round, on which Jesus is said to have
eaten dinner with his disciples, when he
was on the way to Jerusalem.
We climbed up to the top of Jebel-es-
Sikh, 1880 feet avove the sea, from
which Mount Tabor. the ruins of the
city of Main, the plain of Jesreel and
Mount Mormon are visible.
From Nazareth we went to Liberals.
The drive was about four hours Gall
distances here are measured by time)
on road similar TO that from Hiafa to
Nazareth, except that it is little more
stony. On the way we passed several
villages, composed of mud huts. These
huts we should not think fit for our
animals. In these huts there are no
tables, chairs, beds, or in fact anything
we should call furniture. At night
few rugs or mats are spread down on
the earth floor, and on these the natives
sleep. Their dress is of about all kinds.
more fashions and styles than any of our
fashion plates give. 1t takes a prac-
ticed eye to tell from the dress to which
sex the weaver belongs.
Our road for several miles was
through the great plain of Esdraelon.
The crops are looking well. The plows
used are about the same as those used
1900 years ago; | shall show pattern
of plow when get home. The tiller
of the soil gets one-third of the crop.
The owner of the land gets the other
two-thrds We saw many Bedouin
tents on the way. They move their
tents and flocks as the needs of pasture
demand. T hey have large focks of
sheep and goats. The goats are nearly
all black. The ears are from s to 8
inches in length, and about two and one
half inches wide. When the goat is eat
ing grass the ears drag on the ground
This is all on Our way to Liberals,
which place we reached about s o'clock
p. m. We found a comfortable hotel
inside the walls of this old city But
the walls and towers are falling down
The town is said to contain 800 in
habitants, two-thrds of whom are Jews.
After good nights rest we took
boat on the Sea of Galilee" for the
supposed location of Capernaum. There
is nothing there to be seen except a
fine garden, owned by some Monks
Ruins, if there are any, are still cover
ed up At the place where Bethsaida is
said to have been there is house in
which Priest of the Roman church
lives. This is all that is left. of the
many cities which crowded each Other
on the shores of this wonderful lake
Desolation now reigns.
As you ride over this country. you are
very sure that hundreds of acres, once
| cultivated, are now left barren
n railroad from Hiafa to Tiberias was
started some years ago by an English
company. The road is graded and
bridged nearly all the way, and the iron
is laid for several miles. When the
South African war broke out the work
stopped, and has not been renewed 1t
| is the plan to run this road to Damascus,
| and draw the trade this wav. If this
road shall be finished Hiafa will be-
come one of the most important towns
on the coast. Let these plains once cul
| tivated as they should be, and they will
yield immense crops. But there is no
hope of this, so long as the present
| government continues its present sys-
TEN of depression.
On Tuesday morning we expect to take
ship for Jofa, the port to Jerusalem
We expect to spend a week in Jerusa-
lem, returning from there to Beyrout
and starting for home in the goth of this
month. We expect to remain a few
weeks in England, and hope to be al
home by the middle of May.
Our address while in England will be
in care of Thos. Cook & Sons, Ludgate
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