A Few Months in the East

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1861 Excerpt: ...Pagan associate of the journey: --' I would I knew the name of this delicious fountain, that I might hold it in my grateful remembrance; for never did water slake more deliciously a more oppressive thirst, than I have this day experienced.'--' It is called in the Arabic language (answered the Saracen) by a name which signifies the Diamond of the Desert.' Before proceeding to our tents, we visited the site of ancient Jericho; here, we saw nothing but the remains of a dry mud-wall and some low mounds of rubbish. Being now tired and hungry, we quickly made our way to modern Jericho, as it is called, being all that remains of the Jericho of the New Testament, a wretched and miserable collection of tumble-down huts. At the time, several hundred Russian pilgrims, accompanied by a regiment of Turks, were encamped outside the village, having just returned from bathing in the Jordan. Our dragoman had pitched our tents, and everything in due order; we found, also, a capital dinner ready for us, equal in every respect to such as we had at the hotel. After wandering for some time among the Russian caravan, we were serenaded by a dozen Arabs, who sang and danced with great monotony, not forgetting the usual solicitations for backsheesh, which we gave; and, retiring to our tents, we were soon asleep on our camp-bedsteads; I am very sure of this, that I have seldom slept so soundly as I did, under the tent, in front of Jericho, after the wanderings of that day. Next morning we were early up, and soon on our way to the Jordan. The bridle-road, which leads to the banks, is very good, for these parts; so that we were able to canter along at a fair rate, and reached, without delay, this celebrated stream so often mentioned in Holy Writ. Tradition assigns to the spot, at ...