II. REMARKS ON A SERMON DELIVERED BY THE LATE DR. EMMONS OF FRANKLIN BEFORE THE NORFOLK By Rev. W. M. Thomson, Missionary at Beirut. WITHIN the last few years Palestine has been traversed in all directions by travellers from Europe and America, who have in various ways given to the public the result of their discoveries. Northern Syria however has been rarely visited, and but comparatively little is known in regard to it. This fact will probably be regarded by oriental students as a sufficient apology for publishing the following brief journal of a tour through this interesting country. Oct. 16th, 1845. In company with Capt. Newbold of the East India service I left Beirût this afternoon at 3 o'clock, on a tour to Aleppo. A ride of half an hour through rich mulberry orchards brought us to Nahr Beirût-the Magoras of Strabo and Pliny-which we crossed on a substantial stone bridge of seven arches. My companion examined, with some curiosity, the remains of a very ancient building, of Roman brick, which has for many ages marked the spot where St. George killed the Dragon. Leaving the lovers of legendary lore to discuss the rival claims between this and twenty other sites, for the honor of this wonderful combat, we pass on our way around the deep bay of St. George. The path lies along the soft sea beach, and the feathery surf of the light summer breeze tumbles harmlessly over the 1 A similar tour in 1840 is described by Mr. Thomson in the Missionary Herald for 1841, p. 28, etc. feet of your horse. From N. Beirut to N. Antelias' is one hour, and as much further to Nahr el-Kelb-or Dog river-the Lycus of the ancients. Remarkable on many accounts is this little river. Between lofty ramparts of perpendicular rock, it leaps boldly down from snow-clad Sunnîn into the Mediterranean. Its southern rampart projects into the sea, forming a bold, rough promontory, along whose overhanging brow, a narrow and slippery path has been cut out of the solid rock by "men of other days." This remarkable pass was once defended by a gate in the narrowest part, the remains of which are still visible, including a granite column with a Greek inscription too much effaced to be copied. A few rods further on are the Egyptian and Persian figures cut in relief on the face of the rock. I see the name of Sesostris constantly coupled with one of these figures, and shall not attempt to disturb the relation. The origin of the winged globe overshadowing youth acting Egyptian gymnastics is not to be mistaken, and the inscriptions in the arrow-headed character are undoubtedly Persian. Further on and lower down are two Latin inscriptions which may be read in Burckhardt and many other travellers. Near the foot of the present bridge is a very long Saracenic inscription, so involved that our Arab scholars are not able to decipher it. Men of all ages and dynasties have been ambitious to leave some memento of their existence at this remarkable spot. The pass is about half a mile long, rough and rocky and disagreeable in the extreme to a timid rider. The river is always fordable except in very rainy weather, and for such times there is a good stone bridge of three arches erected by the Emeer Bshire. About six miles above the bridge a large part of the river flows out of a cavern; and there are two other caves further up the valley. Across the interior and lower extremities of these caves the river glides darkly, and disappearing beneath the mountain bursts out finally at the mouth of the lowest cavern. These caves are well worth visiting. The real sources of the river are the great fountains, Neba el-Asil and Neba el-Lebn, some fifteen miles further up the mountain. A few rods below N. el-Lebn the river flows under a magnificent natural bridge; and then fretting and foaming through, over and Is the village, Antelias, which is prettily situated about a mile east of the road where the N. Antelias bursts through the rocky barrier of the hills into the plain, the modern representative of the Leontos mentioned by Strabo as between Beirût and the river Lycus? Here are, and probably always were, the mills which mainly supply Beirat with flour. This of itself would make it a place of importance. The shipping in the bay also water from Antelias. 2 For a full account of these caverns by Mr. Thomson, see Missionary Herald, 1841, p. 31.-EDS. |