Over Arab Lands; Notes of a Tour Through Egypt, Palestine, Syria and Turkey, During 1867

This historic book may have numerous typos or missing text. Not indexed. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1867. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... 70 EBAL AND GERIZIM. out a square cavity, cut in the native rock of the mountain, as the altar on which Abraham intended to sacrifice Isaac, his son. It was, probably, at one time enclosed within the church, or, at least, inside its court. There was no thicket near the spot, nor did we see any rams, but several wild gazelles, startled by our approach, bounded away down the mountain side. Looking over to Mount Ebal on the north, we could picture in imagination that august array of the twelve tribes of Israel, drawn out on this mountain, and on that, and in the valley between, to hear the blessings and cursings read by the Levites. What a contrast now do the two hill-tops present--so bleak and so deserted! We came upon several wells, some of considerable depth, into one of which we descended. The water was clear and cold, and the rock around and above us fringed with the holly fern and scolopendrium. On descending the hill, we could not refrain from stopping occasionally to admire the romantic position of Nabulus, which is said to be the most picturesque town in all Palestine. Walled in by barren hills, with Mounts Ebal and Gerizim on each side pre-eminent, its domes and slender minarets cast their shadows on a plateau of the brightest green; and the crimson foliage of the pomegranate, the silver grey of the olive, and the JOURNEY ONWARDS. 71 dark and light greens of the orange and fig trees cluster closely around, like gay gardens, and scramble half-way up the hill. It is now the chief town in Samaria, and has about eight thousand inhabitants, mostly Mussulmans and Samaritans, who live in separate quarters of the town, and hate each other cordially, seldom meeting without a riot taking place. 18th March.--This morning it threatened to rain; the clouds lay p...