Danbury Times

FROM BUCKINGHAM'S LECTURES ON PALESTINE.

Capernaum. Not far from the Sea of Galilee stand the ruins of the once splendid city of Capernaum, extending over a large space of ground: and on either side of it were the cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida. The remains of this place show that it once was magnificent in its architectural embellishments; and containing many baths, supplied by hot springs, which are frequent. One, in standing amid the ruins of this once splendid city, could not help but call to mind the language of inspiration: "And thou Capernaum," &c. The distant view of the Lake is extremely beautiful; and on the western banks the town of Tiberias.

Tiberias. This city, which was built by Herod, in honor of the Emperor after whom it was called, has but little to exhibit, even of its ruins; but among the interesting localities which are pointed out, may be noticed the stone hut upon the water's edge, in which it is said that St. Peter dwelt, when he followed the humble avocation of a fisherman. It is an extremely rude building, consisting of large blocks of stone piled together, and at present in a state of partial dilapidation. Of the ancient Roman remains of Tiberias, very little is left but the walls, part of which are standing, and are of the Moorish order of architecture, having circular towers, with arrow-holes, and draw-bridges, and gates. The Jews who inhabit this town are treated, as in most other places where a remnant of the chosen people are to be found, with a degree of contumely and intolerance, that render their endurance wonderful in the extreme; and Christians (so called) and Mahommedans seem to vie with each other in heaping upon them indignities, which the despised Jews bear with a spirit of christian forbearance, from which those who pretend to bow to the sceptre of the meek and lowly Jesus, might learn a profitable lesson.

Well of Samaria. This spot, where our Lord held that interesting conversation with the Samaritan woman, is pointed out with peculiar identity; and the idea naturally arising in the inquiring mind would be, how is it possible that so insignificant a thing as a well, should last so long? To answer which, the reader is first reminded, that the ideas of one people respecting various things, are widely different, and that which in one country would be a matter of very little importance, becomes magnified into great consideration, by its peculiar situation in another. Thus with wells in oriental lands, especially those parts where the nature of the soil obliges them to dig to immense depths before water can be procured, and where they are then walled up with the greatest care, and preserved from generation to generation. In a country like Palestine, where, between the seasons of the early and the latter rain, the land becomes dry and parched, and the streams of water entirely dried up, it becomes a matter of some moment to preserve the wells from decay and destruction, so that the cattle, as well as the inhabitants themselves, may be supplied therefrom. Moreover, the cost of digging to the depth of four or five hundred feet, being more than individuals may be willing or able to incur, the construction of these wells has ever been a work conducted under the patronage and direction of the governor of the land; and even should other vestiges of a nation perish before the devastating army of invaders, still they would preserve the wells, which afforded them the only source of relieving their thirst. Thus, under all these circumstances, it is not to be wondered at that the well of Samaria still exists in full identity at the present day. Above the surface, this well is curbed with large stones: and the traveller may, in imagination at least, if not in reality, stand upon the very spot trodden by the feet of Jesus; and then recall to mind the beautiful answer which he gave to the woman of Samaria, when he spake of that fountain of living waters, from which he that drinketh shall never thirst.

Cave of Macpelah. The burial place of Sarah, the beloved wife of the patriarch Abraham, is a spot calculated to excite a great degree of interest in the feelings of the beholder. The interesting history of the purchase of this piece of property, as it is related in the scriptures, in connection with the attachment of the patriarchs for the customs of their ancestors in the manner of disposing of their dead, are facts in themselves extremely interesting. All people have peculiar customs connected with the burial of the dead. The Hindoo burns the dead body, while the Christian buries it underground. The Parsecs, or fire worshiper of Persia, expose them to the birds of prey; and a custom prevails at Bombay of bringing a dog into the chamber of the dying man: and if he can be made to fix his eye upon the eye of the death-stricken sufferer, the omen is a good one; and as soon as the breath has left the body, it is taken to Malabar point, and there exposed by the nearest relatives to the vultures, who pick it in pieces; while the friends deem it a sacred duty to stand by and view the revolting sight. Such is the force of custom, that even the most brutal ceremonies are incorporated in the habits of a people; and what one community would look upon as savage and disgusting, another is taught to view with respect, as the custom of their forefathers. Thus it was with Abraham, when he came to the land of promise, from Ur of the Chaldees, his native city. He had the prejudices of ancient habit ingrafted upon his feelings, and could not conform to the customs of the people with whom he was called to sojourn; therefore he purchased this cave, so that he might dispose of the bodies of his connections, and prepare a place for his own, according to the manner of his ancestors; and thus, in view of this same feeling, were the bones of Joseph brought to Sychar for interment, although embalmed after the manner of the Egyptians.