Travel Diary of Mrs. R.P. Eaton:
Europe, Egypt, and Palestine, ca. 1857

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scene, the bathing of the pilgrims, which is an annual occurrence. From all the East, and from most of the countries of Europe, pilgrims gather at Jerusalem, and to the number of several thousands go down to Jericho and encamp, and early the next morning repair to the Jordan, to bathe in the sacred river where our Lord was baptized. It is a motley crowd, under the escort of a Turkish guard. They plunge into the stream, most of them in white dresses prepared for the occasion, and then kept the shrouds in which they care to be buried. The pilgrimage, often long and painful, they deem highly meritorious; but it is not necessary to repeat it, and children are frequently brought to receive the one emersion or bath, which will save them the expense and peril of a pilgrimage in after life.
Reluctantly we left the Jordan, and not till we had sung the “Shining Shore,” and “On Jordan’s rugged banks I stand,” thinking of dear ones who had passed over into the heavenly Canaan, beyond the river, since we left home, and that blessed hope and faith that look for a Divine hand to divide the stream, or give support in its swellings, when our feet come to touch its waters.

Jericho to Jerusalem

The sun was nearing the high hill of Judea, when we made our way westward from the Jordan in the track of the Israelites, under Joshua, to their encampment at Gilgal. ---------
Many wonderful scenes had transpired at Jericho. Distinguished prophets and mighty princes had been there, but at length, in the person of our blessed Lord it had a visitor greater than them all, and some of his gracious words and astonishing works are forever associated with the place. After his baptism, he was led up of the spirit into the wilderness. Then followed the long fasting and temptation. It was doubtless to the wilderness of Jordan, back of Jericho, up to which the Saviour was led passing near or through the city.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We journey on, and I think of that last journey of Jesus ever this same path, going up from the house of Zaccheus, his new friend in Jericho, to the house of Lazarus, his older friend in

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