The pilgrims

Preface

The author has no apology to make for offering this volume for the Sunday-school and home library. It has been written in a style which he hopes will interest the young in the geography of the Bible, as well as the history of Bible lands, and make the study of those, otherwise dull subjects, a pleasure and profitable.

If the reading of these pages will help any boy or girl to a better understanding of the Word of God, the writer will feel that he is well paid for the many hours of toil spent upon their preparation.

P. W. R.

Cleveland, O., April, 1887.

Table Of Contents

PAGE.

Chapter 1 9

Uncle Joseph's health — The Suggestion — Rollins proposition — Ocean voyage — Arrival in Paris — History of Paris — Siege of Paris — The Commune — River Seine — Xotre Dame — They attend Church services — Sabbath desecration — At Lyons — Marseilles — Embark for Candia — The great fish — In the port of Alexandria.

Chapter II 27

Hail to the land of Egypt — Caliph Omar — Pompey — Mausoleum of Alexander — Saracenic Conquest — Pillar of Pompey — Obelisks — Rossetta — Camels — Cleopatra's Needle — A Funeral — Arab School — The Nile — Buloe — Cairo — Joseph's Well — Baths of Cairo — Street pedlars.

Chapter III. .» 43

Climate of Egypt — The Mule — Donkey Boys — Watermelons — Crossing of the Nile — Cool Shade — Egyptian Children — The Cradle — Cats — Girl names — Miss Whateley's School — A beautiful incident — Conversation — Manners and Customs.

Chapter IV 62

Mission Work — A Remarkable Conversion — Conquest of India — Horse Sale — Story Telling — Yatency — The Seven Beans — The Sultan's Treasures — The Ottoman Empire — Servian Prince — The Vizier.

Chapter V , 75

Roida — The Nilometer — Place where Vases were found — The Nile— The Khalij Canal — Pyramids — Their Magnitude — Their Use — Climbing the Pyramids— On Top — The Sphinx — The •v. Ovens — A Wedding — A Bargain — Their Camels — The Journey — The Bedouin Caravans — El Ansh — Over the Desert — Gaza.

VI

Chapter VI 101

Rollin reads from the Bible — The Gates carried off by Samson — The Natives — Uncle Joseph turns Doctor — The Smoke of a Christian's Hair— Jaffa— The Port from which Jonah sailed— Convent of St. Peter— Scene of Napoleon's Massacre— Orange and Lemon Groves — Sunset on the Sea — The Call to Prayer — In the Mosque — Ramah — Valley of Jeremiah — Valley of Elah— Picking Stones from the place that David slew Goliath.

Chapter VII 116

In sight of Jerusalem — Founding of Jerusalem — Rollin quotes History — The Siege — Destruction of the Temple — Tower of Davi-d — English Church — Gate of St. Stephens — Chapels — The Brook Cedron — Mt. Olivet — Mosque of Omar — Foot-print of Mohammed — Gethsemane.

Chapter VIII 135

Valley of Jehoshaphat — Pool of Siloam — Mount of Offence — Burying Place — Place of Judgment — The Streets of Jerusalem — Dolorous Way — Mount Zion — Chamber of the Last Supper — Needle's Eye — Well of the Magi — Superstitions.

Chapter IX US

Bethlehem — Church of the Nativity — Chapel of the Manger — Field of the Shepherds — Oriental Well — Pools of Solomon — Beads and Shells — Funeral — The Sam Wind — House of Pontius Pilate — Bethany — Going to Jericho — The Dead Sea — Bathing in the Dead Sea.

Chapter XIV 249

The start for Baalbeck — Arabs — Lebanon — Cedars of Lebanon — Baalbeck — Ruins — Valle}' of the Abana — Enter Damascus — Mud hovels — The Bazaars — The age of Damascus — Silks — Arabian Nights — Head of John the Baptist — The soldiers.

Chapter I

Uncle Joseph's health. — The Suggestion. — Rollins proposition. — Ocean voyage. — Arrival in Paris. — History of Paris. — Siege of Paris. — The Commune. — River Seine. — Notre Dame. — They attend Church services. — Sabbath desecration. — At Lyons. — Marseilles. — Embark for Candia. — The great fish. — In the port of Alexandria. N

Those of my readers who have read "Fighting Giants," will remember Uncle Joseph as a hale and hearty old man, with a heart of love that delighted to interest the children in everything that was good and useful. They will also remember Rollin, the bright and enthusiastic boy, full of life and glee. Eight years have passed since then, and Rollin is a boy of seventeen years, just completing his preparation for college.

Uncle Joseph's health had been failing for several years, and was now in such a condition that his physician advised him to travel, hoping that a change of climate would result in his recovery. But to this plan he could not give his consent. Mr. and Mrs. Marvin held a consultation, and thouo-ht that since Mr. Marvin could not leave his business, Rollin should accompany Uncle Joseph on some extended journey. They concluded, wisely, that a year's travel would only fit Rollin more fully to enter upon his college studies.

IO

The Pilgrims.

Mrs. Marvin, who, you will remember, was Uncle Joseph's sister, then went to her brother, and said: "We have concluded to let Rollin accompany you on a journey; do you not think you had better take a trip to England, France and Italy?"

He replied: "I have seen all of those countries, all the classical beauties most worthy of attention are impressed upon my memory, and for their frivolities I have neither spirit nor taste."

Then Rollin, who was anxiously awaiting a reply , said: " Uncle Joseph, I can readily believe that you cannot be moved by any light causes of excitement; but pardon me, if I say there is one long journey, I think, could hardly fail to interest you, and I would only be too glad to accompany you."

"Indeed!" replied Uncle Joseph, "Where would you wish us to go, Rollin?"

"To Egypt and the Holy Land, dear Uncle; to those places consecrated in our hearts by the most sacred associations; to Jerusalem, that city which was once the most glorious city upon the face of the earth. To Bethlehem, where the Redeemer of the world was born; oh! and how I do long to walk on the Mount of Olives, where my Saviour so often walked with His disciples! and to weep on Mount Calvary, where He suffered! Surely, of all other objects of interest there are none so worthy of seeing as these. You know how you often read to me and my dear sisters the travels of Bruce and others through Egypt and Palestine, and what light it threw on many passages of Scripture; why should we not go? assured as we must be that the remains of antiquity, the confirmation of

Arrival in Paris.

historic facts, the awakening of devout emotions will not fail to interest you, and bring back the health you have striven in vain to secure? "

This appeal had its desired effect, and Uncle Joseph responded: "My dear boy, I will accord to all your wishes, but we must remember there are great difficulties in our way, long and fatiguing journeys by land and sea."

"I have thought of all that, dear Uncle," replied Rollin; "I shall consider myself your companion, your comforter, and I trust that, for your sake, God will support and smile upon us."

Evervthine necessarv to facilitate the desires of the Pilgrims was soon arranged, because the friends of Uncle Joseph saw the necessity of his speedy departure, and rejoiced to find that he had determined to

We pass over the particulars of their peaceful ocean voyage and journey until their arrival in Paris, where thev remained a few davs, in order that Rollin mieht see the places worthy of attention. The libraries, museums, gardens, palaces and tombs were all visited; and with more especial attention to those places remarkable for their historical occurences, as Uncle Joseph knew that the remembrances so awakened would possess a stronger interest in the mind of Rollin in future years than any other.

"Uncle Joseph, is there any reliable history of the founding of Paris?" inquired Rollin.

Uncle Joseph replied: "The earliest notice of Paris occurs in Julius Caesar's Commentaries, in which it is described under the name of Lutitia, as a collection of mud huts, composing the chief settlement of the Parisii, a Gallic tribe conquered by the Romans. The ruins of the Palatium Thermarum, and of ancient altars, aqueducts, and other buildings, show that even in Roman times the city extended to both banks of the river Seine. Lutitia began in the fourth century to be known as Parisia, or Paris, from the Celtic tribe of the

History of Pans.

Parisii, to whom it belonged. In the sixth century Paris was chosen by Clovis as the seat of government, and after having fallen into decay under the Carlovingian kings, in whose time it suffered severely from frequent invasions of the Northmen; it finally became in the tenth century the residence of Hugh Capet, the founder of the Capetian dynasty, and the capital of the Frankish monarchy. From this period Paris continued rapidly to increase, and in two centuries it had doubled in size and population. In the middle ages Paris was divided into three distinct parts: — La Cite, on the islands; the Ville, on the right bank; and the quartier Latin, or university, on the left bank of the river. Louis XL did much to enlarge Paris, but its progress was again checked during the wars of the last of the Yalois, when the city had to sustain several sieges. On the accession of Henry IV. of Navarre, in 1589, a new era was opened to Paris. The improvements commenced under his reiom were -continued under the minority of his son, Louis XIII. Louis XIV. converted the old ramparts into public walks or boulevards, organized a^regular system of police, established drainage and sewerage works, founded hospitals, almshouses, public schools, scientific societies, and a library. The terrible days of the revolution caused a temporary reaction.. The improvement of Paris was recommended on a newer and grander scale under the first Napoleon, when the new quays, bridges, markets, streets, squares and public gardens were created. All the treasures of art and science which conquest placed in his power, Were applied to the embellishment of Paris, in the restoration of which he spent more than

The Pilgrims.

$20,000,000 in twelve years. His downfall again arrested progress, and in many respects Paris fell behind other European cities.

Renovations of various sorts were recommended under Louis Phillippe; but as late as 1834, much of the old style of things remained; the gutters ran down the middle of the streets, there was little underground drainage from the houses, oil lamps were suspended on cords over the middle of the thoroughfares, and, except in one or two streets, there were no side-pavements. It was reserved for Napoleon III. to render Paris the most commodious, splendid and beautiful of modern cities. When he commenced his improvements, Paris still consisted, in the main, of a labyrinth of narrow, dark, and ill-ventilated streets. He resolved to pierce broad and straight thoroughfares through the midst of these, to preserve and connect all the finest existing squares and boulevards; and in lieu of the old houses pulled down in the heart of the town, to construct in a ring outside of it, a new city in the most improved style of modern architecture. Two straight and wide thoroughfares, parallel to and near to each other, crossed the whole width of Paris from North to South, through La Cite; a still greater thoroughfare was made to run the whole length of the city north of the river Seine, from East to West. The old boulevards were completed so as to form outer and inner circles of spacious streets — the former chiefly lying along the outskirts of the old city, the latter passing through and connecting a long line of distant suburbs. In the year 1867, when the International Exhibition was opened, Paris had become in

Siege of Paris. 15 all respects the most splendid city in Europe; and in that year was visited by upwards* of a million and a half of foreigners. Many further improvements were then contemplated. Xew botanical and zoological gardens were to be formed; the museums and classrooms of the Jardin des Plantes were to be rebuilt; an underground railway was to be formed, crossing Paris from East to West; Montmartre was to be leveled, and the river Seine was to be deepened up to Grenelle, the point where it leaves the city; and then a harbor was to be formed for sea-going ships. Financial and political difficulties, however, were at hand, and the great scheme had to be posponed."

"Indeed, I have been much interested in the history of this famous city," replied Rollin; "and remember something of the siege of Paris, by the Gernnans; I believe it continued from the 19th of Sept., 1870, to the 28th of January, 187 1."

"Yes, you are quite correct," replied Uncle Joseph, "but that siege caused much less injury to the city than might have been expected — it was reserved for a section of the Parisian population to commit an act of vandalism without a parallel in modern times. On March 18th, the 'Red Republicans,' who had risen against the government, took possession of Paris. On March 27th the commune was declared the only lawful government. Acts of pillage and wanton destruction followed. On May 15th, the column erected in memory of Napoleon and the great army, in the place Vendome, one of the principal squares, was solemnly pulled down as 'a monument of tyranny.' The government troops under Marshal McMahon attacked the insurgents, and kept them from doing further mischief- The former succeeded in entering Paris on May 20th, and next day the communists began to systematically set fire with petroleum to a great number of the chief buildings of Paris — public and private. The fire for a time threatened to destroy the whole city. It raged with the greatest fury on the 24th, and was not checked

River Seine.

until property had been lost to the value of millions, and historical monuments were destroyed which never can be replaced. The horror inspired by the commune for a time, drove the wealthy classes from the city, and it was feared that it would lose its prestige as a European capitol. This, however, has not proved to be the case. In the Autumn of 1873, all the private houses burnt had been rebuilt — the monuments only partially destroyed had been restored, and the streets and public places were as splendid and as gay as in the best days of the Empire."

Our pilgrims visited the river Seine, and viewed some of its celebrated bridges; the Notre Dame was erected in 1500, and the Neuf was begun in 1578, and completed in 1604, by Henry IV. This latter crosses the Seine at the north of the Ile-de-la-Cite, is built on twelve arches, and abuts near the middle on a small peninsula, jutting out into the river, and planted with trees, which form a background to the statue of Henry IV. on horseback, which stands in the central open space on the bridge.

They next visited the palace of the Tuileries, which was begun in 1 566 by Catherine de Medici, and enlarged by successive monarchs, while used as a royal residence, until it formed a structure nearly a quarter of a mile in length, running at right angles to the Seine. To the east of the Tuileries, at a distance of more than a quarter of a mile, was erected the palace of the Louvre, forming a square of 576 feet, by 538 feet, remarkable, especially the eastern facade, for its architectural beauty. Rollin was much interested in these things, and to his anxious questions Uncle Joseph 2 responded: "The Louvre long since ceased to be a royal residence, and has been converted into a public museum of antiquities. It was connected with the Tuileries by a great picture gallery overlooking the Seine, and 1456 feet in length. North of the picture

Notre Dame.

gallery, and between the two palaces, lay the place du Carrousel, into the northern side of which, at the accession of Napoleon III., there intruded a mass of poor and narrow streets. One of the Emperor's earliest improvements was to remove these buildings, and connect the Tuileries and Louvre on the northern side, throwing them into one vast building, forming the most magnificent palatial structure in the world. The Tuileries continued to be occupied as the residence of the Imperial family; but the Louvre proper formed a series of great galleries with pictures, sculptures, and collections of Greek, Egyptians, and Roman antiquities. The communists attempted to burn the whole pile, but fortunately only succeeded in destroying the Tuileries and the North-western corner of the Louvre. The library of the Louvre, with its contents, was burned, but the rest of the building with its priceless treasures were saved. A large sum was voted by the government for the restoration of the Louvre, and this work was at once undertaken and carried forward with the utmost dispatch. North of the injured part of the Louvre is the palace Royale, the most valuable part of which, fronting the rue St. Honore, was set fire to by order of the commune in 1871. The palace of the Luxembourg, on the South side of the Seine, was built by Marie di Medici, in the Florentine style. It contains many magnificent rooms, some of which have been employed as picture galleries for the works of modern artists. The Luxembourg was formerly the house of the peers, but since 1S71 it has been used as the hotel de Ville."

Rollin expressed a desire to see some of the churches

The Pilgrims.

of the city, in this desire Uncle Joseph acqusced, saying: " in a historic point of view, the most interesting is the Cathedral of Notre Dame, which stands on a site successively occupied by a Pagan temple, and a Christian baslica of the time of the Merovingian king's. The present building was constructed between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries; and in its present state of restored magnificence it may rank as one of the noblest specimens of Gothic architecture. St. Germains-des-Pres, which is probably the most ancient church in Paris, was completed in 1163; St. Etienne du Mont, and St. Germains 1' Auxerrois, both ancient, are interesting — the former for its picturesque and quaint decorations, and for containing the tomb of St. Genevieve, the patron Saint of Paris; and the latter for its rich decorations and the frescoed portal, restored at the wish of Margaret of Valois. The Sainte Chappelle, built by St. Louis in 1245—48, for the re* ception of the various relics, which he had brought from the Holy Land, is one of the most remarkablebuildings in Paris, profusely decorated in all parts with brilliantly colored materials. Its present beauty is entirely due to the restoration completed by the late- Emperor at a cost of $250,000."

Rollin was greatly pleased with the scenes of the day; and returned to the hotel filled with new delights and aspirations.

The following day was the Sabbath, and our Pilgrims, like true Christians, attended a Protestant church, and heard an excellent sermon. When they came out of the church, Rollin was surprised and shocked to see that nearly every person around them seemed to be.

At Lyons.

running about on some scheme of pleasure, a mode of conduct so different to all the notions of duty implanted in his mind, and to everything he had witnessed in his quiet Pennsylvania village. On the following morning they left the gay city of Paris, without any regrets, in consequences of the disgust and awe excited by the scenes on the Holy Sabbath day.

PALACE ON THE SEINE.

Our travelers proceeded to Lyons, long celebrated for its silk manufactory; and thence to Marseilles, an ancient and beautiful place, where they were under the necessity of remaining some time, as they had directed that all their necessary letters for the East should be forwarded thither. The principal of these was a letter from the authorities at Rome, addressed to the heads of convents in the Holy Land, which was promised through the intercession of friends, and this, together with introductions to various American, English and

French consuls, and several travelers of note, they were fortunate to receive in due time.

NOTRE DAME.

Here also they purchased such things as were likely to be of use to them, particularly watches and spyglasses, and as much money in specie as they could manage to take conveniently; for they were informed

Embark for Candia.

that there might be difficulty in procuring it at Alexandria.

At length, in the latter part of September, they embarked for Candia, anciently called Crete, the birthplace of the fabulous Jupiter, and the place where St. Paul himself planted the Gospel. It will be readily supposed that Rollin, whose mind was filled with those classical images, imbibed from his late studies, and to whom Grecian heroes and the scenes of their exploits were necessarily most familiar, should feel his heart warm as he approached the first place where he could, indeed, feast his eyes by an actual survey of land immortalized alike by history and poetry.

But alas! Candia was far different to all that imagination taught him to expect; it was inhabited by Mohammedans, and the few Greeks, scattered among them in their slavery and poverty, awakened only sentiments of regret for their dreadful situation, as the servants of an unbelieving race. Thick fogs, very prevalent at this place, prevented them from seeing the shores of Greece; but when they had left Candia, the breeze cleared, and they observed quantities of swallows in a state of migration, and they had before them every prospect of a swift and pleasant voyage to Alexandria, whither they were bound.

Already they had espied curious obelisks, and remarked that from the exceeding purity of the air, the beauty of the starry heavens were increased manifold, and thereby an opportunity given to ancient Egyptians to study astronomy to the greatest advantage; when suddenly a sharp breeze set in from the land, and their hopes were disappointed. In a short time the gale

The Pilgrims.

increased to an alarming degree, and they saw immense water-spouts forming between the sea and the sky, which excited the greatest alarm in the crew. All night and most of the following day the vessel was "driven to and fro like a drunken man," and the passengers were obliged to remain under the hatches, to the great mortification of Rollin; but at length it pleased God to rebuke the winds and the waves; all things grew serene, and with renewed hopes the travelers again sprang upon the deck.

"Look, Uncle Joseph," said Rollin, "What large fish are sporting now that the storm is over; some of them are nearly "as long as the ship."

" Yes, they are, and some are longer than the vessel/' replied Uncle Joseph; "I am glad we happen to see them, they confirm the truth of the Scripture statement respecting Jonah, who was swallowed by a great fish in these waters, whereas some infidels have asserted that no laree fish have ever been seen in them."

"Yes," responded Rollin, "I have just been reading some of the attempts of infidel writers to explain away the account of the fish swallowing Jonah; they said that when Jonah was thrown overboard, he swam for his life, earnestly praying God to preserve him from drowning; and by His Providence he was thrown into a place of fish, a fishing cove, where he was for a time entangled among the weeds, and hardly escaped with his life; and, when safe, he composed his poetic prayer, which some have wrongly interpreted, by supposing that he was swallowed by a fish ; when the Hebrew word dag should have been understood as a place offish^ or fishing creek!'

The Great Fish.

Uncle Joseph answered, ''These attempts to explain away that wonderful miracle, have long since been exploded; now, I say, the original has no such meaning in the Bible; and this gloss is plainly contrary to the letter of the text, to all sober and rational modes of interpretation, and to the express purpose for which God appears to have wrought this miracle, and to which Jesus Christ Himself applies it. For as Jonah was intended for a sign to the Jews of the resurrection of Christ, they were to have the proof of this sign, in His lying as long in the heart of the earth, as the prophet was in the belly of the fish ; and all interpretations of this kind go to deny both the sign and the thing signified. Some men, because they cannot work a miracle themselves, can hardly be persuaded that God can do it.

"The text, and the use made of it by Christ, most plainly teach us, that the prophet was literally swallowed by a fish, by the order of God; and that by the Divine power he was preserved alive, for what is called three days and three flights, in the stomach of the fish ; and at the conclusion of that time that same fish was led by the unseen power of God to the shore, and there compelled to eject the prey that he could neither kill nor digest. And how easy is all this to the almighty power of the Author and Sustainer of life, who has a sovereign, omnipresent, and energetic sway in the heavens and in the earth. But foolish man will affect to be wise; though, in such cases, he appears as the recent born stupid offspring of the wild ass. It is bad to follow fancy, where there is so much at stake. Both .ancients and moderns have grievously trifled with this prophet's narrative; merely because they could not rationally account for the thing, and were unwilling to allow any miraculous interference."

They were now speedily wafted into the port of Alexandria, where they found numerous vessels, of all nations, waiting to be laded with corn, such is the fruitfulness of the land of Egypt, that, even under all the disadvantages of government it has long experienced, it is yet a mighty granary for surrounding countries; and, in the midst of many sufferings and privations, has continued to be a place of "commercial importance.

Caliph Omar.

Chapter II

Hail to the land of Egypt, — Caliph Omar. — Pompey. — Mausoleum of Alexander. — Saracenic Conquest. — Pillar of Pompey. — Obelisks. — Rossetta. — Camels. — Cleopatra's Needle. — A Funeral. — ■ Arab School. — The Nile. — Buloe. — Cairo. — Joseph's Well. — Baths of Cairo. — Street pedlars.

"Hail! dear Uncle Joseph," greeted Rollin, " to* the land of Egypt, the most ancient of all countries, or at least of all nations, or perhaps I ought to say, of all seats of Empires."

"You are right," replied Uncle Joseph, "Egypt is the oldest kingdom since the flood, undoubtedly — is also the mother of science and arts, and the place where the true God most signally displayed his power in behalf of his people; it is a country full of great and extraordinary interest."

"Oh, yes! I well remember," responded Rollin, "the city before us was built by Alexander the Great, and at one time it contained the finest library the world ever saw, before printing was invented, and it w f as burned by order of the Caliph Omar, in 641 A. D. Here lived Cleopatra in a style of magnificence no modern potentate can rival, and here she died, by her own hand, in the midst of treasures she could no longer secure; and on these very sands, poor Pompey, whose greatness had once filled the world, after dying by the hand of an assassin, found a wretched grave."

" You are quite right," responded Uncle Joseph, "and in addition to what you have said, anciently two great streets crossed each other at right angles;

The Pilgrims.

in their intersected square was the superb mausoleum, which held the body of Alexander. It was embalmed in Babylon, and brought hither with dazzling pomp and laid in its resting place with honors due to a god. The warmest fancy cannot raise from these ashes the city declared the centre of Alexander's world, when all was conquered. It was circled with stupendous walls, fifteen miles in circumference. Read Gibbon

MAP OF EGYPT.

for accounts of it in the days of its glory, when the revenues of a province were allotted the crown princess for her sandal-strings, when idleness was unknown among the people, and even the lame and the blind had industries suited to their condition.

"After the Saracenic conquest, the temples of Alexandria were one by one torn to pieces to build Cairo, the City of Victory, and in one Turkish mosque there are four hundred Greek columns from this fallen star

Pompeys Pillar.

in the East, once a shrine to scholars, and the greatest depository of learning in the world. The desolate column, known as Pompeys Pillar, is the last survivor

OBELISKS OF LUXAR.

of the four hundred belonging to the Temple of Serapis, the noblest building then on the face of the elobe, except the Capitol at Rome. This shaft was perhaps

The Pilzr i ms.

part of the quadrangular portico, a matchless work, which sheltered marble statues, the best of Grecian genius, and was reached by one hundred steps of purest marble."