Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1902-05-17
SEAaOF GALILEE.
Tropical Scenery, Writes William {.
Curtis, Surrounds Famous Water.
BANK IS NOW DEsoLATE.
From Chicago Record Herald.


Sea of Galilee Is very rapid. That vii.
lage lies at an altitude of about 100
1cet above the Mediterranean. and the
nils around II are from 1000 to 1900
rect nigh. while the sacred lake Is $50
rect below tide water. Few people
realize that the greater part of our
Lords ministry was performed in a
natural trench washed out by the Rjv.
or Jordan NJ some remote period of
geological history. II is curious for.
nation Of nature.
Ms the CARRIAGE descepds along the
/ Voug road, which IN wet weather Is
almost impossible we pass from spring
To summer. Travellers who visit the
sea OF Galilee later than April must
expect oppressive heat. and the con.
trast between the heavy and humid at.
mosphere Of the lake basin and the
pure and exhilarating ozone of the
hill country around Nazareth is keeniy
felt by people who are sensitive To eli.
matte changes. Inc vegetation he.
comes tropical as we approach the
water. Trees which are never seen on
| the hills grow in thick jungles and
l groups OF palms decorate the scene i'm
every direction The lake has the shape
of heart. thirteen miles Iona and
/ eight miles wide. A Jewish rabbi once
said: Jehovah hath created many
lakes, but the sea OF Gennesaret Is his
delight" II resembles the lochs of
! Scotland. and its resemblance to the
lakes OF northern Italy is often point
ed out although the foliage Is more
scanty and by no means so beautiful
and the villas and towns cannot be
! compared for moment.
The lake Is encircled BY white
] gf T. nf hn "a
is formed of smooth white sand shells
and pebbles. and the southern end OF
gravel and black and white powders.
Evidences of volcanic agencies appear
frequently. and on the southern banks |
are the famous hot baths of Herod, |
who utilized group OF sulphurous !
springs and built an" fitted in great |
luxury in imitation or the Romans q |
collection of bath houses that have |
never been surpassed in the east. The |
water of the springs has a bitter and |
nauseous taste and smells like anti. |
ouated eggs but amid all the wrecks |
OF fortune with which the locality is |
strewn they still minister to the ills |
of humanity with great relief Rheu
matism. govt and other diseases can be |
'ured by using them and invallds come
here from all parts of Syria. The
springs were famous throughout the
ancient world. but the present accom-
modatlons cannot be recommended.
The bath houses are dirty and incon.
ven.ent. and the surroundings are re.
pulsive. There is Protestant hospi.
tai and missionary medical station
near by. both of which are supported
by the Free Church of Scotland. and
furnish neat but limited quarters.
The baths were called Hammath In
the Old Testament. but are known as
Hummon now. The springs are four in
number. The water has normal tenn
perature OF l4i degrees Fahrenheit.
and its chief properties. as shown by
analysis. are carbonate Of lime. muir
iatic salts and chloride OF magnesium
There is cave in the hill upon which
an old castle stands. which is supposed
to be connected by subterrapean pas
sages with the springs, for 1t has a
nigh temperature and Is continually
filled with steam. Persons afflicted
with govt or rheumatism receive al
most immediate relief by sitting in this
cave and submitting TO the continuous
and profuse perspration which its
high temperature exciles.
Down In this pit. in the days of the
crusaders. the ambition OF christen.
dom was scorched to the heart. Tempt.
ed by treachery, the knights OF the
cross attacked Saladin. The dust and
heat were intense. for there had been
long drought and the earth was
parched. The Arabs set fire to the
trees and shrubbery. The knights chok-
ed in their armor. The foot soldiers.
blinded by smoke and dust. were tram.
pied down by the Bedouins. Although
they fought sun. fire. heat and sword
with terrible desperation, their defeat
was utter. The entire force was ami.
hlated, and nearly every man who es-
capped death was captured and taken
into the desert as a slave
Above the beach. around the lake,
is succession OF grassy slopes and
rocky cliffs with groups Of oleanders.
whose blossoms are moSe brilliant
than can be found elsewhere At the
head of the lake the entrance OF the
River Jordan is marked by rich green
plain. The river comes down through
rocky gorges with a succession OF
foaming rapids passes through a jun.
gle OF luxuriant oleanders and then
bursts into the clear waters OF Galilee
group Of five palms and a clump OF
thorn trees mark it's mouth. On the
south. where the Jordan leaves the
lake. II enters muddy plain, and ST
lently cuts its way through the banks.
gathering clay and other earth In solu.
ton until II becomes very turbid. Upon
the eastern side Of the lake the desert
sands come almost to the water. Veg.
citation and fertility Is found almost
exclusively upon the western side. and
Il has always been so. II Is believed
that the soil of the eastern shores Is
Just as rich and might be as easily ir-
rigated but through all the centuries.
and until recently. 1t has been exposed
to the forays Of the Bedouins, who do
not hesitate to harvest other mems
fields.
At present there are no farms and
few houses and the only lights to be
seen are the camp fires of the Bedou-
ms