Letters from Palestine: Written during a residence there in the years 1836, 7 and 8 — John Shaqi
Letters from Palestine: Written during a residence there in the years 1836, 7 and 8Paxton, J. D. (John D.)
Religion
Letters from Palestine: Written during a residence there in the years 1836, 7 and 8
Paxton, J. D. (John D.)
Palestine -- Description and travel
Two or three hours brought us to the foot of Jebal Sun-neen, and up
near the foot of the snows. Here we selected a good spot, and again
pitched our tents; intending to employ the next day in our ascent
to the top and return to the same place. We found it much colder
than it was in the lower parts of the mountain. We really needed
fire; but it was with difficulty that wood enough could be procured
to make our tea, much more to make a fire to warm half-a-dozen
people in the open air. We had, however, expected this, and brought
clothing accordingly, so that we did not suffer much.
In the morning, we began the ascent; we rode nearly an hour, and
took a donkey still farther for the benefit of the ladies; but
then left all our animals, and betook ourselves in good earnest to
the matter of ascending the Mount. On the side which we ascended,
between where we encamped and the top, are two or three offsets,
then the mountain falls off and leaves a kind of level. These
general levels have small ridges and round hills on them, and many
deep valleys and sink-holes, or holes of that peculiar kind which
abound in districts where a horizontal limestone stratum lies on
the surface. In these deep sink-hole places, and in the valleys,
and on the sides of the ridges, the snow was accumulated in great
quantities, but it did not cover the whole surface of the mountain,
as I had supposed it might. But a small part of the mountain had
snow on it. It lay in patches, and possibly not over one-twentieth
part was covered with it. I saw no ice--all was snow. From the
action of the sun and wind, it was just hard enough to walk on with
safety. The foot would sink in it one, two, or three inches--seldom
more. I walked on it in my shoes without inconvenience.
We were three hours in reaching the top--we proceeded slowly, and
stopped frequently to allow the ladies rest. We found the summit
much like the offset, which I have just described. There was what
may be called a general level, of a mile or two across, with many
rises in it, and full of deep holes of various shapes, some nearly
round, others long and narrow. These were full of snow. It was
usually much melted at one side, and the largest masses were, as a
general thing, found lying on the west or south-west side of the
hollow. What appeared most singular, was the fact, that for the most
part, the outsides of this great cone appeared the highest--around
it were the highest knolls, while the inner parts were lower, and
its holes and sinks more deep. The rain and snow water does not seem
to flow over and down the outside of the cone, but sinks in it, and
finds its way out as it can.
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