RAMLEH.
REINHARD'S HOTEL, RAMLEH,
February 21, 1890.
We left Jaffa at 3 P.M., in as fine a landau as you would see in Hyde
Park, with three horses and a dragoman, and drove along a splendid
macadam road, meeting and constantly passing camels, donkeys, and
strange-looking Turks. Soon we came to the Plains of Sharon, perfectly
level, and stretching off for ten or twenty miles each way, covered with
red, blue, and yellow flowers. They are said to be the "roses of Sharon"
mentioned in the Scriptures, but really are a species of poppy. At a
distance we saw the high hills and mountains which surround Jerusalem.
The scenes were of the most thrilling interest, for Solomon often passed
this way, and over the road were transported the cedars of Lebanon of
which the great temple was built. It was a cool and bracing day, and we
had a delightful trip, arriving at this excellent hotel at 5 P.M., and
at once walked to the ruins of a mosque built in 1099 A.D., by Saladin.
The tower, an elegant structure, is still standing. We went to the top
of this tower, and looked upon a lovely landscape. As far as the eye
could see, the plains were covered with almond-trees in full blossom,
and other trees and shrubs peculiar to the country, the big cactus
plants being used for fences. As we returned we passed a tower, from the
top of which a priest was crying aloud for the faithful to pray. Every
few miles was a guard-house, and horsemen were often met on the road who
acted as police.