CHAPTER X

BHAMDOON

MOUNTAINEERS DEATH OF MRS. THOMSON VISIT OF THE UNITED STATES' SHIP DELAWARE AT BEYROOT- JOURNEY TO SUNNEEN AND BAALBEK.

THE intenseness of the heat during the summer, at Beyroot, renders it expedient for foreigners to remove for a few weeks to the country among the mountains. Mr. and Mrs. Smith took up their residence, in the month of August, at Bhamdoon. She carried her love to Christ and to precious souls into the scenes of her temporary residence, and also in her journeys; and devoted her thoughts and efforts to the great objects for which she had "left all.”

"Mount Lebanon, July 15. The warm weather had become so enervating in Beyroot, that Mr. S. and myself concluded to remove immediately to the mountains, where on Friday last we literally pitched our tent; and in this patriarchal dwelling I am now writing.

"This unusual heat is passing away, and the air is as elastic as that of the White Mountains, and the water as bright and refreshing. Indeed we are nearly as high as Mount Washington, and the sea is spread out before us to an immense extent; the sun sets in the water beyond the island of Cyprus, the outline of which we see, though it is more than a hundred miles distant.

"What an analogy exists between the moral and natural features of an unevangelized nation! As we passed over Mount Lebanon, I told my husband that it required strong faith to believe that it would ever become a fruitful field.

rides around these mountains. There are but few shade trees in this village, but the grape vine is abundantly culti vated. It runs on the ground, upon the declivities of the mountains, and is now loaded with fruit, half grown, while 'watchmen ' are to be seen, scattered singly over the vineyards, to prevent depredations. All the varieties of high mountain

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scenery are found here; irregular and bold summits, deep ravines, &c. The horizon, which the sea bounds, is so extensive, that the sun appears to set high up in the sky, and the sea and sky are almost blended. In the morning the clouds are to be seen resting upon it, like a mantle of snow, far below us, presenting a most singular appearance Our tent occupies the site of an old threshing-floor, and around it are several others, where men are now at work. "July 17.I have just been interrupted by a visit from woman and her little boy, and presented with some raisins. In return I offered them food also. She is poor, and asked me to visit her; on my promising to do so, she kissed my hand. After I thought she had been here long enough, I told her that I wanted to write, and bade her ' go in peace,' which she did very cheerfully. I had asked her a few questions of a religious nature; but it is of little use for me, at present, to attempt any serious conversation, as I can go no farther than to inquire if they love God and Jesus Christ, and if they think about them, to all which they answer most confidently in the affirmative. I long to talk more with them on these great truths, but many months must first elapse. Pray for me, my beloved parents, that when I have the ability, I may also have the heart, to do this people good. I sometimes fear that I shall find my

rt treacherous, for now I am able to pray for them, and is duty I do not perform as faithfully as the case demands. Jerusalem, that still devoted city, we hear is almost in ruins. How striking is the providence of God towards these countries, once the cradle of Christianity, and towards his peculiar people, to whom belonged the adoption, and the covenant, and the promises, and the glory! An im

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mense debt of sin seems still resting upon them, and they are receiving double' vengeance. Alas, the poor Jews! In the late tumult, Mrs. Thomson says, they have suffered peculiarly.

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August 5. Since our visit to these Druzes, Mr. Smith has had several applications for the Scriptures. These 'mountain tops' will yet

'Shout to each other,

And distant mountains catch the flying joy.'

"This imagery of Cowper, with that of Jeremiah xxxi. 6, where the watchmen of Mount Ephraim' are mentioned, was strikingly illustrated this morning, as I was taking an early ramble among the peaks of Lebanon. The vintage being near, the watchers are stationed upon the summits to guard the vines, which are growing luxuriantly in every direction. Upon a distant eminence I beheld the solitary figure of a man, whose voice met my ear; while from another summit I heard a cry, but saw no form. When they see any person trespassing upon another's vineyard, they shout in this manner."

After having given in her journal some description of the Druzes, residing around Bhamdoon, she writes

"August 6. The longer I remain at Bhamdoon, the more I feel interested in the mountaineers. Could faithful, consistent missionaries occupy these villages of the moun tains, I doubt not that the united efforts of their preaching and example would be followed with a rich blessing, even in the overthrow of false religion and the introduction of the true."

Mrs. Smith entered with deep feelings into the reverses of the missions at Jerusalem. Among them was the death of Mrs. Thomson; of whose excellence of character she thus speaks

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August 11. Mrs. Thomson was a dear and valuable woman to us all, and we feel that our mission has indeed sustained a loss. She possessed a cultivated mind, a warm heart, and an animated manner. Her sensibilities were perhaps too lively for this climate; since nothing is more injurious here than excitement of feeling. Our departed friend won the affection of all. Our servant remarked, when he heard of her death, 'There is no one like her in Beyroot.' The propriety and fervor of her devotional exercises added greatly to the interest of our female meetings; and she was ever animated in devising means of usefulness, and in sharing the labors of the mission as far as her precarious health would permit. Her heart, as well as that of her husband, was much set upon the Jerusalem branch of our mission; and as she had from her own funds furnished a liberal supply of books and school apparatus, she had formed strong expectations of doing good there in her favorite occupation. You will learn from other sources the trials which Mr. Thomson has experienced in his separation from his family, during the commotions in Judea and Jerusalem. God seems to be having a controversy with that spot, and calling us to look and consider, and admire his justice. Some might say that our dear sister had sacrificed her life for nought; but I trust that from her heavenly abode she looks down, with lively satisfaction, upon the last two years of her life on earth, in which her own preparation for eternal happiness has been more effectually advanced than it could have been in any other circumstances; and she regrets not that her mortal part rests on Mount Zion. I consider the discipline of char acter to which a missionary is subjected in the trial of a final separation from his country, and in the subsequent events, as worth all the sacrifice which it involves; even though death be the immediate consequence, and not one dark mind enlightened through his influence. How little Mr. Thomson anticipated such a termination of his plans! Concerning the welfare of the Holy City, we cannot but

exclaim once more, 'How long, O Lord, how long?' I know not but the answer will be found, in the spirit of it, in the 11th and 12th of the sixth of Isaiah. At least it appears to me, that God is calling his people to look intently, and notice his reasons for thus avenging the iniquity of that chosen land.

"August 15.- Evening. Since family prayers, at which a number were present, Mr. Smith was saying, that he wished some one more worthy and capable than himself were among the people, to dispense the bread of life to them, for he felt that the field was whitening. I reminded him of Moses and of Paul, who felt, almost to discouragement, their own weakness. He is preparing his journal, which he kept during our visit in Egypt, and his journey in the Haurân, to send to the Missionary Rooms, and he requires undisturbed leisure for this.

"Sabbath, August 16. A few days since, I called upon a very pretty woman who lives in a part of this house, and has been to prayers several times. Among other things she asked me why in prayer we leaned forward and closed our eyes.' This must have impressed her strongly; as I recollected that she had before asked me the same question, when she called upon me, and which, from my imperfect knowledge of the language, I did not then understand. I replied, that it was to enable us to withdraw our thoughts from surrounding objects, and think of the great Being to whom we were speaking, and that this was our custom even in our closet duties. She seemed to approve of the practice and the motive. Her little girl, named Saadeh, comes here every day to be instructed. I told her the story of the creation and the fall, and a day or two after requested her to repeat it to me, which she did with great readiness and propriety; in better Arabic, of course, than mine. Mr. Smith has now an audience of half-a-dozen before the door, and one of them is reading the Scriptures aloud. It is a great favor that so many of the men and boys can read. "Alas, our poor sisters! the curse rests emphatically