A Mountain Pass,

Otago Witness, Issue 1917, 17 August 1888, Page 32

A Mountain Pass,

where darkness and misfortune fall. A sudden crash, followed by investigation, proved the forward wheel of our landau had had parted from the hub. Long search foi the lost nut availing nothing, the wheel was attached, being secured by a cord. Owing to the gymnastic propensities of one of the mules, it seemed as though the carriage with its occupants would be hurled over the precipice near by. This danger averted, and as all were hoping to get on without further trouble, the wheel again left us. By this time matters indeed began to look serious, and I felt sure the dragoman, who, like the writer, was on horseback, was mucn worried over the situation, as, in fact, he had a right to be, for the. road was far from safe, and just here, as if to add to the unpleasantness of our situation, a downpour of rain set in. The saying that time is of no value in the East was fully illustrated by the men, whose movements, despite our condition, were provokingly deliberate, and at times it seemed as though they hid everything in just the opposite way from what they should. Fiually a second start was made, to be followed in a few moments by a third breakdown. It was during this halt that the baggage mules overtook us, whose driver had by one chance in a thousand found the missing nut some 15 miles back. The darkness was so dense it almost made itself felt, and the rain was heavy, altogether making our horses more and more unmanageable. After a time we arrived at a long-looked-for inn, whose only place of rest appeared to be a billiard table, and whose walls were artistically decorated with whisky bottles. Jerusalem was still an hour and a-half distant. Involuntarily, as it were, came to our lips those familiar old lines: — Jerii3 lem, my h ippy homo, Nairn ever dear fc-> me. And it was at 2.30 in the morning we arrived at Jaffa' Gate, the climax being reached 'when the driver, notwithstanding rain was falling in torrents, informed the ladies of our party they would have to' walk into the city. It was certainly an experience such as the writer trusts few may ever have. And now, before exploring the city of David, let us make an excursion to