Milford chronicle., 1909-07-23

e Inns, $500 Christians and about 20,
, Jews. This town was founded NOR
than a thousand years ago by tn,
/ Khalif Suleiman after he had de
: stroyed LYDIA, and it became ar
p important station at the junction o
the two roads from Damascus tc
Egypt and from Joppa to Jerusalem
1t was occupied by the Crusaders
in A. D. 1899, and was then for
nearly two hundred years the scene
of many battles with the Moselems
during which time it fell alternately
between the two people until 1866
1t was finally captured by the Mos
lens, an old building about a quar-
ter of mile from the town was once
a Crusaders Church. The ground
is a network of tunnels and vaults,
one of which was the tomb of forty
companions according to the Mos
lem tradition and forty Martyrs ac-
cording to the Christians. On the
north side of the road are the re-
mains of a huge reservoir now in
ruins called Helena 5 Cistern.
Between Ramleh and the next
large village about two miles further
on to the right is the tomb Of Acoo
Shusheh, and near the tomb are the
ruins Of Tel el Gezer, a royal city
of the heather on the border of the
tribe of Ephraim. 1t was taken bv
Pharoah and burned and the land
given by him with his daughter to
Solomon as a dOwry Solomon re-
built it with part Of the tribute he
levied for the building of the temple
and his own palace, and according
to the guide who was with us, its
is described in the first
book Of the Maccabees.
Cubab, a modern town, is next
seen on low ridge, from where we
descend and cross the broad valley
Of Ajalon, where the guide quoted
the following "Sun, stand thou
still upon Gibeon, and thou, moon,
in the valley of Ajalon And the
sun stood still and the moon stayed.
and there was no day like that be-
fore it or after it." Josh. X, 12-14.
We now ascend a hill to Latroon,
where the extensive ruins of a strong
.OItress tower above the Trappist
convent where there is a beautiful
view reaching to the Mediterranean.
The foundations of the castle are
Roman, as we were informed, and
he lighter walls and arches prob
IDLY Saracenic. Tradition through
many centuries, perhaps ever since
he day crosses stood on Calvary,
makes this the birthplace of the
thief.
Amwas stands in full view of La
room, a mile to the northeast, on
he slope of a high hill In the
arly days of Elisa II it was the
Gene of fierce conflicts. 1t CON +,
aims the ruins OF a fine church.
We next arrive at the village of
'alo which gives its name to the
alley of Aialon below it and is two {
liles east of Amwas.
North of Yalo in the plain is the Z
lrge village Of Belt Nuba, where =
.ichard Cosur de Lion is supposed
} have pitched his camp in 1892.
.fter a half hour or more ride from
atroon we leave on the right Jobs
Veil, and few minutes later arrive
{ Bah el Wad, where refreshments
re served if desired.
We pass now through ravines and =
yer rocky ridges till we reach the D
lcient Saris, where there is a beau -
tul view Of the Plain of Sharon, 1
)unded by the sandhills Of the :,
)ast, then on over the hills and
rough valleys until we descend
rough olive groves to Kirjath-
rain. The substantial houses
re belong to the family of the
eat AbOo Gosh, a freebooting hero
great power and energy, who,
gether with his six brothers and
descendants, was subsi-