The sun., 1903-02-01
IN ANCIENT SYRIA.
Phstegraphs Taken BY Prsf. Labbey on the
Beaten TraSk q TouFlsts.

Beaten Track - TeuS1sts.
Prof. william Libby Of Princeton Uni
vsrsity showed to the American 0eogrsph-
ical Society last Tuesday evening . very
exceptional lot Of Photographic which he
took last year during . journey through
Syria from north 10 south.
Prof. Hbbey Ii Q worldwide traveller,
and not the least important Of the geograph-
often exceptionally excellent, and unique
in subject. The $50 lantern shdes he ex-
hiblted tho other evening. for example.
were views taken entirely oc the beaten
track along the extreme northern part
OF the Jordan Valley. southward the whole
length Of the rugged and hill-crowned
plateau bordering the valley to the east.
and south to the famous rock city Of Petra,
beyond the Dead Sea at the extreme SOUTH
ern end Of Syria.
The purpose OF his long Journey was to
study some unsettled and very interesting
questions relating to tho geological history
Of this part Of Syria. His labors were
extremely fruitful and will soon be recorded
In the book hs II TO publish on his expedi-
tion.
Probably not one tourist In 10000 ever
traverses the long route which he followed.
His pictures and his description OF them
were ically q revelation OF the un-
known to his large audience. He showed,
for example, a series OF views Of the ruins
OF very large town built by the Romans
during their occupation Of that country.
These ruins, covering . wide area on
two hillsides separated by . valley. are
worthy 70 be compared In many respects
with those unearthed at Palmyra. con-
siderable amount OF the bridge work and
walls Of the city arc still fairly we'll pre-
served, though the earthquakes In that
volcanic region have done much to hasten
the work OF destruction. Engineering
skill Of high order was exhibited In the
construction Of this mammoth masonry
formed OF huge blocks Of stone.
Many massive pillars still stand. though
some Of them have narrowly escaped de-
struction. for they are badly twisted on
their foundations, showing that they have
been subjected to undulating movements
OF the surface, just a. many Of the monu-
rnents In Charleston churchyards were
turned partly around on their pedestals
In the earthquake Of 1855.
Two views represented the tierS Of stone
seats In Roman amphitheatres, one OF
which would seat 1000 and another 1000
persons. Those were the days whom the
water resources Of Syria were more scisn-
tifcally husbanded than they are to-day
and vast areas, now arid stone slopes and
plains, were covered With fertile nelds.
Another very interesting view showed
the few traces that now remain OF the
ancient city Of ths god Pan, famous for
it's so-called religious ceremonies OF an
indescribable character and for its proud
citadel at tho very source OF the Jordan,
above the chasm into which were hurled
the victims immolatsd at The sacrihoial
altar.
These were merely typical vssws Of scores
Of pictures shown by the lecturer. The
elimination Of the pictorial features was
the numerous views Of Petra. which at the
very dawn Of history was the capital OF
the region that 10 now the southernmost
part of Syria This was . city Of stone
In q preSminent sense and Its site N no moro
wonderful than ths remarkable approach
TO 1t through . gorge only . few yards
In width, Q mere assure in the rocks rising
to . hei ght Of several hundred fest on either
side and even at noon admitting only .
few dim rays Of the sum.
II t..e proposed railroad from Damascus
to Mecca IL ever completed It will pass only
q short distance TO the east Of Petra; but 1t
is doubtful IL even this facility would
largely increase the number Of tourists
to the rock city on account Of the extreme
dificulties Of the approach to its site.
Most ancient towns of that region were built
for protective purposes on the tops Of hills.
l. n~H- ho -ao hs,i
on low plain enclosed on all sides by rocks
and mountains which are almost impas-
sable. The route to this enclosure will have
to be greatly improved before 1t is visited
by many tourists; and yet what Ii left Of
the handiwork Of man at Petra may be
classed among tho wonders Of the world.
The most remarkable monuments are
those cut in the rock itself. Prof. Lbbey
showed photographs Of temples. with their
colonnades and IA ades cut out Of this sand
stone, their architectural beauty still al
most unimpaired. The effect ia rendered still
more striking by the varisyated and vivid
ooloring Of the rock. Far and Wide on the
faces Of these rock masses, palaces and
tombs have been let into the red, purple
and yellow cliffs superimposed one above
another
Tradition says that The earliest inhabi-
tants Of this district were troglodytes whose
hrst rude erottoes, shapeless caverns hol-
lowed out OF the hillsides. wore later trans
formed into architectural galleries deco
rated with statues and bas-reliefs. No
one knows when the peopie who have left
these wonderful works Of their hands
perished or disappeared; but the many
pictures Of the place showed this city Of
the wilderness. now q vast metropolis,
With many hundreds Of tombs climbing the
heights OF the hillsides.
Another view showed the mosque which
crowns Mount Hor. the eliminating point
Of the Idur = In highlands. The top Of
this mountain IL the traditional grave Of
Aaron and the mosque was built at this
lofty altitude In honor Of the first high
priest Of the Israelites.
Wise Men studying Snake Poison.
From the PAdadelphia Record.
contribution Of $1,000 has been made
hv the Carnegie Institution to aid the re.