The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-04-07

not be crossed, but the most Of IL IS Gull
tivated by the Bedouins, who we're al
ready out in great numb ers putting in
seed, with their oxen and pIoughs. On
passing one Of their numerous villages
Of black tents, we were accosted in good
English by a Bedouin, who said that he
had been in America, and asked Us TO
stop and take coffee with him Twice
before we had been thus accosted by
syrians who had been in the United
States. At the annual meeting Of the
Presbyterian mission In Beirut, which We
CHANGED TO attend, much was said about
the tendency Of their converts to imi--
CRATE to America In one group Of
churches containing a membership Of 400
or 800. 80 had gone TO America II is
contrary 10 law for them to leave the
country: but the day we were at Beirut
the governor was persuaded to 90 out OF
the city for few hours. while whole
ship-load went a few miles out in the
other direction and embarked for our
country. The woman in the Jewish col
ony at whose house we stayed one night,
later on. told US that her husband was
in America, and she should follow him
as soon as possible. The difficulty Of
keeping the leaven in the country which
is 50 necessary for It's regeneration, is
one Of the most discouraging factors il
the problem OF Turkish civilization.
The Jewish colony 10 which reference
has been made is one Of those sent out
by the Rothschilds. who have purchased
a large tract Of fertile land in TIE south
west Of Lake Huleh. This is being rap
idly brought under nigh cultivation, and
villages Of modern appearance are spring
ing up over IL FL Janneh. where We
stayed, is well up on the tanks Of the
western mountain slope, and is surround
ed with vineyards and mulberry groves
for the culture Of silk worms The vii
Iage IS paved and well supplied with
water, and roads are built so that
wagons can be used. A small silk fac
tory, run by steam. gives employment
90 about 100 men ard boys. Altogether
the settlement has very thrifty appear
ance. But it is impossible to tell how
much of the thrift is due TO outside
capital, which is being used for temper
airy needs The Jews are not naturally
agriculturalists, and all their colonies in
Palestine are still, TO a considerable ex-
tent. recipients of charitable aid. espec-
tally in the support Of schools and in pro
viding medical assistance.
Lake GaIfee is more than 600 feet be-
low the level Of the sea. One Of the most
marked Of the cross faults" OF the re-
gion extends westward from the Jordan
valley a little north Of the lake. This
is known as the Plain Of Esdraelon. and
falls down in its highest part to about
400 feet above sea level The north side
OF this fault appears as a serious Of
PERCEPTIONS cliffs running east and west
and q little south Of Nazareth. Mt Ia
Dor is an outlying block projecting part
way into the plain. An English company I
has q railroad from Acre on the coast /
partly graded through this pass; but, for
some reason. work upon II has been sus- !
pended for the present
The feature II this Jordan valley to
which we give special attention IS the /
terrace Of fine sediment. about go feet 1
above the level of the Dead Sea. which /
completely surrounds it, and stretches /
far out at each end. This. however, at /
-ains its fun height onIy near the mar /
gin OF The valley. Towards the middle
Of the valley 1t descends. either by I
:
IT less weIl-rnarked terraces, Of which
we counted twelve near the south end.
Where the shores are precipitous and no
streams are entering from the sides, the
consists Of coarse debris, some
What water-worn, which has fallen form
The cliffs. But, whenever a water
course comes in from the bounding high
ands there is a delta-like extension cor
responding fl extent TO the size of the
stream which has contributed the ma
-eriaI. These are, however, not charac-
.erstic OF the north end Of the shores,
,or the reason that the sea here is so
ieep as 10 have swallowed Up all that
he shores. have heretofore brought with
n its reach. The delta-Iike extensions
# the terrace are very. pronounced about
he southeast. the Lisan being the most
prominent of them AL. II is clear enough
hat in recent geographical age, the
vater-IeveI in the valley stood for some
ime about roc feet higher than now. and
las gradually receded to its present level.
The cause OF this huctuation in the
eveI Of the Dead Sea opens an interest
NJ field Of speculation BY most recent
writer's il has been connected with the
daciaI period, like that Of the filing up
# the salt Lake basin in Utah. As long
20 as 1852 Sir Joseph Hooker announced
hat the ceeiars Of Labanon were grow
ng on terminal moraine. As they are
000 feet above the sea this is quite likely
he case; but could detect no evidence
4 glacial action anywhere in the Le-
anon regioa which we visited. There
vas certainly no general glaciatiou Of the
eSi0a Stin. as it is probable that the
laiciaI preiod was characterized by in
reased precipitation anu diminished ev-
poration over a broadening era Of con-
iderabIe extent. It affords an easy ex-
lanation OF the rise Of water in the Jor
an valley I observed also, near the
orth end Of the Dead Sea, evidence THAI
be sitting UP took place to q large extent
llrire q Gradual rise Of the water. The
oarse material near the bottom was fire.
uently so far out from the old shore,
nd SO covered with thick strata Of hne
sdinent as 70 render no supposition
Their than this possible. The glacial per-
a affords the best explanation Of this
The slopes % the whole range are SO
taep. ard the trails so nearly tmpas-
able. that ore wonders, in travelling
yer them. how even the present sca-ty
opulauoa MANAGES 70 i've BUT the
mestoue, like that OF the blue grass re-
ion Of entucsy. rapidly disintegrates,
nd furnishes the elements needed Tor
eEetaton- BY extensive teTacing. the
, aaty soil vas formerly al retained IN
lace On the gentler slopes. While forests
roteet the higher ara sleeper slopes. :
. VIII Require ali the power Of q central-
.e5 government ana OF concentrated cap
al 10 restore its former fertility. such
-sns ~ W EEara cnr,nalIa5 - rsss cva-