New-York tribune., 1903-01-28
THE RUINED CITY OF PETRA.
Professor Libbey Describes His Visit to the
Holy Land.

The American Geographical Society held its an
nual meeting last evening in Mendessohn Hall
adopted various routine reports elected Commander
Robert E Peary president for the ensuing year
and Professor William Libbey vice-president. and
then listened lecture from the latter The
Valley of the Jordan and tie City Of Petra" Pro-
fessor Lbbey occupies the chair OF physical geog-
raphy at Princeton University, has long been
responding secretary Of the organization which he
addressed last night, and during the last fifteen
years has been a great traveller. He was absent
from this country large part of 1902. and i'm
proved the opportunity to carry out a long cher
ishcd ambition to visit the Holy Land.
His talk last evening mainly running de-
scription of the scenes portrayed BY his lantern
slides, and introduced by outline of his
route He entered Palestine by way of Sidon, on
the north. worked his way southwark the east
side of the Jordan, went far in this direction
the ruins of Petra-about fifty miles south of the
Dead Sea--and then emerged at Jaffa He carried
with him the Stars and Stripes. as well as the
Turkish flag, and believes that this is the first time
that the former have been openly displayed on 80
long jaunt in that part of the world
The pictures gave vivid idea of the noun
tain scenery of the Holy Land. the natives. old
Roman ruins Capernaum. the Sea OF Galilee and
other places OF sacred interest The speaker
counted of the difficulties which he expert
enced in dealing with extortionate officials. and
toll, told how he met them With bluff and diplomacy.
s he that ct pae here much Se
tation in supplying him with the military escort
the person of single soldier When ne was
eyinced disposition TO obstruct his progress
Their motive doubtless fear that the visitors
might trump up claim to the territory itself
off hidden treasure. However. after dis
covering how much more powerful were the fire
arms carried by Professor Libbey and his
panions they ceased to offer any opposition.
Unlike most other ancient cities in that quar-
ter of the globe. Petra is not set on hill. but
hidden away in singular natural amphitheatre
in the mountains. and Is approached by a long
and exceedingly marrow canyon One can push
his way up this passage until within fifty yards
of the nearest edihce. without discovering any
thing OF consequence. Then suddenly colossal
and beautiful temple is revealed. Professor Lib
bey's photographs of the gorge and this and other
structures provoked lively applause. His views
also showed n building known Pharaohs Treas
ury an amphitheatre capable of seating six thou
sand persons. sacrhcia affairs and thousands OF
tombs out of the solid rock. One feature OF the
explorers experience could not thus be indicated.
The rocks of varied and beautiful hues yell
low red and purple predomnating. Few visitors
TO Petra stay than twenty -four forty
eight hours, but the Princeton geographer spent
FIVE days there. In that time he made two
three discoveries OF his cwn-temples and tombs
which else had reported.
on leaving Petra Professor Libbey descended at
least four thousand feet In single day, and at
one time reached level fifteen hundred feet lower
than the