New-York tribune., 1905-07-28

Hoskins, and how largely IL figures in religious
history il is remarkable how little we know Of
4; to-day, how now most Of what the authors
describe was 10 them and il 10 the reader and
how much remains to he revealed. on their way
30 Petra they passed down the valley of the
Jordan. keeping generally we'll 10 the eastward
OF the river and the Dead Sea, YET we'll within
the confines OF the Promised Land and on
through Moab into Edon. The region they
traversed is rich with the romans of Grecian
and Roman civilization. and for time held
by the Crusaders. whose strongly built castles.
impressive in their ruins. Welded liz turn 10 the
power Of the Moslem.
Owing to the dangers from the lawless Beda-
ween tribes. the Turkish government has hith-
erto declined 10 be responsible for the safety o.
travellers wishing 10 penetrate into that terri
tory or even TO permit them go there when
they were willing to take the responsibility upon
their own shoulders. So, for hundreds of years
che land has been practically closed 10
strangers: and though some have ventured in
81 has been under conditions inimical TO thor
ough investigation Fortunately. Dr. Hoskins.
who for nearly twenty years has been at the
head Of the Syrian Mission in Beirut, able
60 secure from the Naly of Damascus written
authorization for the expedition long planned
sy him and Professor Libbey. Under such con-
trol has the Turk now placed the once unruly
yorderland that this bit of official paper proved
more effective than an armed guard. and the
szrplorers made their entire trip without untow-
ard incident or interruption. As an instance
ef the freedom they enjoyed, they state that al
fhougE OF the sixteen parties that had previous
~ visited Petra not one had spent the night IN
she city. they themselves stayed hve days there
sanpin- within its precincts, finding much that
had escaped she observation of former explorers,
from Burckhardt, in 1911. TO George L. Robinson,
an 1900 In particular, they discovered a second
outdoor temple, or thigh place" less lofty but
more accessible than the one first seen by Ed
~srd L. Wilson in 1882. 1t cost Kitchener, Hull
and Armstrong $40 for the privilege of visiting
Aaron's tomb. on Mount Hor. in 1883 Yet Lib
hey and Hoskins went there freely and undis-
ialrbed, although they were unable to see the
anterior. as The door was locked. The account
Of the expedition is thus valuable not only 10
.he Biblical student and to the archeologist'
hut interesting 10 the general reader, also,
record OF exploration and adventure in strange
-ret strangely familiar lands. In addition, DR..
JIbbey, who is professor Of physical geography
sn Princeton University, made careful study
OF the geological aspects OF the Jordan Valley
which as IS well known. enjoys the unique
distinction on this planet at least of lying 1880
feet below the level of the sea; and he has
evolved Z new theory 70 account for this geo
srsnhical freak Of nature. However plausible his
acceptance or rejection must. Of course, he left
20 those scientific experts to whom he has
doubtless already given the results of his oh
rervauons in greater detail
Among the most notable OF the places visited
by Drs Iihbey and Hoskins vas Jerash, or
o;erasa one of the chief cities of the Decapolls'
"a city OF stupendous ruins Second only 10
Palmyra in size and importance, and second
oplv 70 Baalbec in beauty Of architecture; in
%1,e,,a 1,afh and q 4
perfect specimen Of an ancient Grecian city it
has no eoual." Its finest buildings were erected
as early as the second or third century, and the
state Of the ruins indicates that it destroyed
by an earthquake Nevertheless. three OF four
hundred OF the thousand columns originally
lining the principal street still standing,
and what remains OF the propyleum gives evil
6ence Of having once been 'one Of the most
snagnif1cent masses OF architectural beauty ever
reared in any land" portion OF the site is
now occupied by a colony OF Circassians, brought
there by the Turkish government, but r4ley have
apparently left untouched all the important
public buildings. They have, Of course, used
many of the smaller cut stones in the construc-
zion Of their houses, but seem to have adopted
fhe considerate fashion of using those containing
Greek and Latin inscriptions in the sdeposts
and lintels OF their doorWays, convenient for in
spection by the visiting archaologist. Splendid
fn a different way are the ruins of the Crusader
castle at Kerak. in Moab, probably the Kir
1Iareseth of II Kings fiji. Built on a lofty noun
tain top the ancient entrances 10 the city We're
Through four rock hewn tunnels. The castle
occupied the highest point at the southern angle
ef the plateau, "a mass OF vaulted rooms and
chambers more than two hundred and fhty
yards square and still reaching up to four and
Eve stories" The treacherous Reynald Of
Chatillon commanded it when Saladin defeated
King John Of Jerusalem at the Horns Of Hattin
sn llS7 and sealed the doom Of the knights Of
che Cross. Canon Tristram declares this castle
20 be "the grandest monument Of crusadng
energy now existing" Wherever the authors
went on their journey, 'on the plains of Moab
and deep into the mountains of Edom," they
travelled frequently crossed the old Roman
roads. nowhere in the world in finer state OF
preservation
one Of the most interesting points touched at
was Madeba- near Mount Nebo. where is the old
mosaic map-What there is left OF it--of Pales-
sine, found in the ruins Of d basilica of probably
she fifth century. II is now included in a mod
egn Greek church. Crude and pictorial II was
doubtless, as Clermont Ganneau suggests, con-
stTucted TO show IN q realistic way the land that
Moses saw from the summit of the neighborpg
snountain. 1t has been studied only since 1897
and fl already bids fair 10 disturb many tradi-
tions concerning sacred sites and 20 open up
fresh controversies. The authors furnish a com
f,lete series of photographs Of the map. which
are not the least striking of the many excellent
pictures which illustrate the two volumes
We have already referred TO the exceptional
opportunities the authors enjoyed Of exploring
Joers. the city Of those that dwelt lin the cefts
OF the rock" Until the Romans built three
s.alcY,7id roads into he entrance was