Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1904-05-12
LETTER FROM
MR.. LAUMASIER

last. owing to the fact that we nave
beeL having 80 many changes, as we'll a
a. such strange experiences, it has been d
almost impossible TO find time to I
write If | remember rightly my last
was dated at Beyrout.
where we went ashore to visit the city
and its special points of interest. There
is an American College here, under
auspices of the Presbyterian churc',
and is a most excellent institution con-
tanning hundreds of young men from
every part Of the East We visited the
college and held service there, which
was greatly enjoyed by all. The view
from Beyrout is most beautiful as 1t /
i situated so as to command a splen- |
did view of the bay and the snow-cap- |
ned Lebanon Mountains. The homes |
and stores in some quarters are very /
we'll built and attractive. Like other [
| Eastern cities, soldiers are in evidence /.
everywhere To enter the city we
were compelled to show our passports.
| During our stay here Easter was be-
| ing observed, and the city wore de-
| cided holiday appearance, many OF the
stores being closed, and the people
were out in great numbers, attired in
their brightest garments a flourish
ing Y. NJ O. A. is maintained at the
American College and the writer had
the pleasure of meeting a number OF
its prominent members and talking
with them of the work in America.
From Beyrout we steamed to Caifa,
where we landed in small boats, TAX
ing our baggage with US, for 1T was
at this point that we were to begin
our overland trip on horseback, through
Samaria and Galilee to Jerusalem, on
horseback. Caifa is a small town, and
contains comparatively little of in
terest. After brief visit about the
harbor, our horses were ready and we
started through the country on horse
hack. There was more or less excite
ment in selecting horses, and before
everything was in readiness, a number
of persons were thrown off and pushed
about in the throng. but there was no
serious damage to any one, and in due
time we were on the road, long line
of riders, eager and anxious to see the
many sights that can only be seen IN
trip like this.
We travelled through a beautiful
country, over a we'll kept road, until
noon, when we stopped, by the way
, side, under olive trees, for lunch, which
was all ready for US when we came, 1t
having been prepared by the cooks and
servants who were always in advance
=, of US. After lunch we continued on our
Journey to Nazareth, where our tents
, were pitched and at which place we
stayed all night. The people were ex-
pecting us, and came out III great num-
: bers to see our camp and look at the
Americans. The entire population
seemed to be dressed up for the occas'
> ion, and as they passed to and fro III
their bright garments the scene was
most picturesque. as well as pleasing
; TO our ewes. Whilst we were strange
: sight to them, they were strange to us
:, Our camping outfit consisted of tent:
very beautifully decorated on the in
side with Oriental colors. and when
y -.--..-, --..-.c.'ou, ts..e..o4t a6ouJ IN
/ which to hang clothing, and every con
+ venienCe for the traveller. Large Turk
4 ish rugs were thrown OH the ground,
which made the tent comfortable and
: home-like. Cooks, servants, police
men, muleteers, dragomen and soldlers
n accompanied us from place to place,
y who served us in their respective cap
O acities and made living comparatively
pleasant and safe during our outing of
eight days. The entire camp equip
ment was carried from place to place
: on the backs of camels AMI donkeys.
Our journey overland, which start
ed at Oaifa, continued through Sam
= aria and Galilee. from day to day,
f stopping for lunch at various points,
+ also each night for rest Sight seeing
was INDUCED in by the way. After
our departure from Nazareth we came
to the Sea of Galilee and Tiberias. pass
ing through the beautiful Plain of
Esdraelon on the way to Nazareth, al.
so visiting the Annunciation. the Holy
Grotto, Workshop of Joseph, the Mount
OF Precipitation, the Galileean Hills,
and other Teputed sacred sites so in
timately associated with the early life
of our Lord
Tiberas is walled city, and very
old. In reaching it we passed Nit
Tabor and through Cana of Galilee
and across the great Crusader battle
field of Hattin and the traditional
Mount Of Beatitudes. After exploring
the Bazaar and the streets of the town
of Tiberias,a a delightful sail was made
on the sea of Galilee, visiting on its
shores the site of Capernaum. Bethsaida
and Magdala, and then back to Tiber-
las. At this city we had the pleasure
of viewing an oriental wedding pro-
cession, which came into the town on
camels and donkeys, with a long pro-
cessiOn of men and women following.
clapping their hands as they walked
along the streets. From Tiberias we
| proceeded back to Nazareth, through
pleasant valleys and over high noun
! tains, passing caravans of camels and
donkeys, enjoying very much the
changing scenes and experiences. [
may mention here that in Palestine
there are no forests and very few trees.
L will continue my correspondence !
from here later, rs am able to find |