St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-07-29

We were sorry at Port Said to par
from our Quaker friend who had com
on from the Transvaal with US, and wht
had been my vis-a.vis at table during tn,
voyage, but we hope to meet him agar
in Canterbury and to see his friends ant
to look over his album, the views taker
by his busy kodak all through the jour
ney. Our passage over to Jaffa was un
eventful. We met some Russians whom
we met frequently afterwards, and found
most energetic and persevering sight.
seers. Our first view of Jaffa in the early
morning gave us pleasant impression,
The tints of the yellow and pink and
grey houses reflected in the blue of the
sea, were picturesque. The charm
vanishes upon entering the ancient in
odorous city. Our landing was re-
markedly smooth, much to our relief,
for we heard stories of terrible splashes
and high breakers, and that sometimes
landing is impossible. We went to the
Jerusalem Hotel, where the salon iscalled
Israel, and the bedrooms are named Reu-
ben, Cad, Simeon, and so on after the
ten tribes. / refreshed myself in Benja.
min, and then repaired to the dining
saloon where the menu cards contain
Cat, D beloved, drink, yea, drink abund.
antly!' We sat opposite picture by a
modern German artist that we longed
to carry away even more after we had
been to the original scene. 1t was of
the Jews Wailing Place in Jerusalem,
opposite the ancient wall of the temple.
The coloring was excellent and the scene
pathetic in the extreme. As the price
asked was $500 our modest pockets
could not give out the required gold,
and we had reluctantly to part from this
treasure. Jaffa is one OF the oldest cities
in the world. We didn't see the ark here,
nor did we see the holes of the chains in
the rock where Andromeda was bound.
but as to the age, we have no doubt.
That we could walk from the docks to
the hotel and not fall fainting and ill
from the vile, ineA pressibly vile and
ancient smells, is mystery. Even in
our rapid exit we had to give admira-
ton to the Turkish porters who bore
huge loads, far exceeding the weight that
four men would ordinarily carry. We
went to the house of Simon, the Tanner
and undoubtedly in this part of the town,
devoted for ages to tanners and tan
neries, Peter, the apostle, dwelt. Out
side near the sea was well, and fresh
breezes for time blew, and we must
hope that the apostle had all the advan.
tages of fresh air to be gained Here we
first saw "the hyssop on the WALL" and
daily during our Palestine tour its furry
leaves and yellow flowers became more
and more familiar as we noted how it
sprung up out of crevices and crannies
and on walls and ruins everywhere.
This is one Of the sites said to be authen-
tic, and mosque-like apartment is
placed over the ancient room. The tomb
and garden of Tabitha or Dorcas are not
accounted absolutely authentic spots,
but we like to think that in such fair,
sequestered quarters that good woman
dwelt, and that Peter had the sweetness
and rest and cleanliness that pervaded
that part OF the town. The place is now
Greek hospice and the garden is ideal.
Wild peoples and other lovely flowers
bloom at the mouth OF the old Roman
tomb, with its mosaic floor, and its
many inches to receive the honored dead.
We passed many of the famed Iaffa
gardens and orchards. The immense
groves of orange and lemon trees were
sweet with fragrance and their fruit
was luscious and perfect in taste and
tavour. There were fig trees, with
young green leaves; peaches, apricots,
pomegranates, mulberries, almonds and
ounces; pale olive trees in abundance
and very fine large sycamores, like the
one Zaccheus climbed up; expresses,
oleanders OF immense size, and variety
OF acacias and all more or less concealed
behind hedges OF cactus and pricklv
pear. We had for our dragoman Chalil
L. Gaudour, and he told me that the
huge, thorny leaf OF the prickly pear was
a tavorite food OF the camel and that if
any person was poisoned by the thorns
that the saliva of the camel was an anti
dote. After leaving these blooming
orange groves and these fine gardens,
our train journey took us through the
level plain of Sharon, which is like an
oasis in contrast to the stony hills be-
You'd. There were people busy sowing
and ploughing with a camel, two oxen,
an OK and an ass, and here and there
were stones, landmarks as in ancient
times. Lovely wild flowers, red peoples.
Star OF Bethlehem, marigolds, dandelions,
beautiful pink and white orchises
lobelias and mallows, as well as blue
corn flowers and red daisies abounded
and the children at every station bore
huge punches. We stopped near Ramleh
aad watched the olive groves and noted
the tlne square tower. There are many
records of Crusading days, of Saracen
sway, and some signs.of Napoleons at.
tempts in this lar land. There is a great
contrast to the plains of Sharon in the
barren, rocky hills and though occasion.
ly olive trees may be seen, yet the bare
grey cliffs, the wild groves, the narrow
deheS the lonely caves and tbe forIoro