Mill on Jerusalem Road, Damascus
The old Jerusalem road from the Holy City to Damascus is but little traveled and is neither safe nor interesting. Between the shore of the Sea of Galilee and the plain of Damascus we pass but one inhabited village. While we are not able to identify the spot of Saul’s conversion, the scenery of plain, mountain, river and sky is substantially unaltered. Near this sacred spot is this old mill in the suburbs of Damascus. The artist and his associate reached Damascus after a hot ride through the desert. We started from Beitima, about twenty miles from Damascus, at three o’clock in the morning. The stars deep and thick filled the Syrian sky. Our path was narrow and rough. The dragoman forbade us talking until the sun was up. He said, if robbers were lying in wait and heard horses’ hoofs and no talking, they would assume that the party was composed of soldiers and would not attack us; but the voices of foreigners would expose us to robbery, and possibly death. Such warning guaranteed perfect silence. The way for ten miles south of Damascus was extremely dusty and the weather hot. We were glad enough to see the gardens and the waters of the city, and we stood for a time in sight of this old mill on the edge of the city of Damascus. Travelers on this road are likely to see a string of camels bearing wheat of Auranitis, Bedouin cavaliers from the eastern deserts armed with long lances; and peasants driving their yokes of oxen with sharp goads. These goads illustrate Jesus’ words to Saul when he appeared near this very spot: “It is hard for thee to kick against the goads.”
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