Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1876 edition. Excerpt: ...I met quite a number of Jews, single and in companies, but to-day their numbers are greatly increased. They have just been making their annual visits to the sacred cities of Tiberias and Safed, and to the holy places, of which Joseph's Well, near Nablous, is one. I am told that they do this every year. They are very civil to me, returning my salutations politely, and seeming pleased with my respectful manner of greeting. However, they look jaded, especially the women and children. No wonder. The sun is threatening already one of his fiercest days, and they are going south, with his broad, hot face to stare them in their faces until his going down. I am too much of a traveller to let him stare me in the face. It was to avoid this that I sent my horses down from Beyrout to Jerusalem, that I might turn my back upon the Great Luminary, as I go thus meandering through the heart of the land. What a lovely valley this of Mokhna is! No wonder Abraham settled here on his first coming to Canaan. No wonder Jacob settled here when he came down with his wives and children, flocks and herds, men-servants and maid-servants, from Padan-aram. Although the ground has been cultivated for nearly forty centuries without manure, it yields all the products for which this country was ever famous. Indian corn, barley, wheat, beans, vegetables in variety, etc., etc. Although the plowing is but child's-play compared to ours, being a mere scratch three or four inches deep, more like lux 308 Jacob's Well. rowing than plowing, yet that barley yonder would not discredit the prairies of the West. The earth is red or reddish brown, and very friable. Not a tree nor hedge appears in the valley; but a little way up the hillsides, the olive, fig, pomegranate, etc., are...