Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-03-28

pilgrims come here every year and walk
the long and dusty roads which lead
them to these holy places. Before
reaching Jericho we passed the caves
and dwelling places of the. hermits.
Jericho is today a small town of not
more than POO inhabitants and is distant
about three miles from the old city
that was destroyed. Here we found
the accommodations poor. but have to
put up with them as all the party were
DESTROYS of seeing the country around
here. In the morning we took carriages
for the shore of the Dead sea and the
River Jordan. The sea is about eight
miles distant and we reached there at
ten o'clock. This is the lowest depres-
sion of water in the world, being 1900
feet below sea level. We rowed on it
and tasted of its bitter waters. Nothing
grows along Its shore line and there is a
fine picture of desolation on all sides.
Spending an hour here we re-entered
Il carriages and drove to the River
Jordan. Here we seated ourselves at
the point where John the Baptist bap-
tiZed Christ and also were at the place
where the lsraelites crossed over to the
promised land. We took a boat here
and crossed the Jordan. The last
river" you know. Before leaving we
rowed about a mile up the stream. 1t
is a deep and muddy river about a hun
dred feet wide, the banks being covered
with a lu1uriant growth of small timber
and flowers. After returning from our
boat ride some of US got out our bathing
suits and wan across the river. Near
here we are able to see Mount Gilead
and Mount Moab, the place where Moses
stood when he first viewed the promised
land. | a assure my readers that to
day it does not look very promising or
good to me. 1t is one vast district of
desolation and poverty. There are a few
irrigated patches of land in the valley
aud | saw some of the finest grain [ have
ever seen growing, but it was only a few
acres. There are evidences here show
ing that at one time the people had this
valley under q high state of cultivation.
Many of the old orchards and vineyards
are partly bearing now. but it takes
work to produce crops, and the people
won't do it. The Jews should return
and make the country once again what
it was. | am sure it can be done. This
afternoon we visited the Mount of Temp
%tation, where Satan tempted our Lord.
Here also are the springs of Elisha and
on the hill the house of Rahob. The
view from here of the Valley of the Jor-
dan is beautiful, but little of this once
fertile valley is under cultivation today.
The land is of a heavy clay, but water
for irrigation cannot be had without
labor, and this is foreign to the people
here. The whole country is apparently
infested with thieving and lawless peo-
pie, and it was necessary to have a
mounted guard accompany us on ou1
journey through the mountains. After
spending n more night at Jerlcho we
again took our carriages for the return
trip TO Jerusalem, visiting on the way
the cave or grotto where Elijah was fed
by the ravens. Traditions here gives il
that the ravens spoken of IN the bible
were a tribe of black people, designated
as ravens OF account of their color, anc
not birds as supposed by most of ns
Here is an opportunity for discussion
Our next stop was at Bethany