276 THE COMMERCIAL ASPECT OF JERUSALEM. The principal imports from England are cotton goods and some colonials. Of the former, it is calculated that between 300 and 400 bales, of the value of £16,000 to £20,000, annually find their way here. There are no British merchants or tradesmen. The imports from foreign countries. consisting chiefly of woollen manufactures, hardware, glass and fancy goods—are on an equally limited scale. The exports are olive oil and grain, the staple products of the district, of which the quantities and destination will be shown on the returns from Jaffa, the port of Jerusalem. "Agriculture.-As above stated, the staple produce of this district is olive oil and grain, of which the principal kinds are wheat, barley, sesame, and maize, raised in rather considerable quantities. Cotton is grown in the Nablous district. Previously to the ravages of the locusts, to be presently referred to, the estimated yield for 1866 was 600,000 to 700,000 okes (the oke equals 23lb.). It is raised from native seed, is of an inferior quality, and is chiefly exported to Marseilles. No well-directed and sustained effort on the part of the Government has been made to promote the cultivation of cotton. It is believed that in many parts of the country cotton might be successfully and extensively grown, with good seed and proper instructions and implements given to the peasantry. A model farm, conducted by Englishmen, would, in my opinion, be the best means of promoting cotton culture in this land. "During the summer the country was devastated by locusts. The olive crop suffered severely, in common with the cotton plant, the vine, fruit trees, &c. The grain crops had already, for the most part, been reaped. Vegetation soon recovered, however; and, unless the locusts come again, the evil will have disappeared with the cause. "The animals bred in the district are horses, camels, mules, asses, sheep, goats, and not many oxen. "The population of the city of Jerusalem is estimated at 18,000, of whom about 5,000 are Mahomedans, 8,000 to 9,000 Jews, and the rest Christians of various denominations. "The chief native industry is the manufacture of soap, and what is called 'Jerusalem ware,' consisting of chaplets, crucifixes, beads, crosses, and the like, made principally of mother-of-pearl and olive wood, and sold to the pilgrims, who annually resort to the Holy City to the number of 6,000 to 8,000. "No mines are worked, although it is believed that sulphur, bitumen, and rock salt abound on the shores of the Dead Sea; but security and capital are wanting, and so long as these are absent, the probable wealth to be extracted from those regions will remain unavailable. No factories are to be met with. The employment of the people in the rural districts is agriculture, which is carried on in the most primitive mode. "A colony of Americans from the State of Maine, numbering 156 persons, arrived and settled near Jaffa in September. Their leading idea ap pears to be a religious one, connected with the fulfilment of prophecy concerning the Holy Land. They are, for the most part, farmers, handicraftsmen, &c., bringing with them their own wooden houses, agricultural implements, and tools. If the colony contrives to escape the disastrous failure which has attended previous similar experiments, it will be interesting to watch the progress and results of the enterprise, which cannot fail to be beneficial to the country, through the introduction of their superior husbandry and workmanship. "Public Works.-It is matter of great regret it should have again to be reported that neither railway, nor what, under the circumstances, would Population and Industries. The be more advisable, carriage road, has population of the Sandjak may be been, or is likely to be, made between computed at 200,000 souls, divided Jaffa and Jerusalem, and of which a into the three sects of Christians, Ma- harbour at Jaffa would much enhance homedans, and Jews, in about the the value. The difficulty is under following proportions:-stood to arise from the unwillingness MORMON CONFERENCE IN MANCHESTER. 277 of the Porte to grant the concession | lowed to lie waste, or are but partially to a foreign company, while it abstains and poorly cultivated. There can be from undertaking this most necessary no doubt that with the agricultural and profitable work itself. The roads capabilities of the country fully utilof the district are of a most wretched ized, it would support a population description, and, with the want of many times larger than its present security, are the main cause of the scanty and poverty-stricken inhabipoverty and general backwardness of tants. the country. The formation of roads would, in the nature of things, itself react upon the country, and tend to promote its security. This arises principally from the predatory Bedouin tribes inhabiting the outskirts of the district, to keep whom in check, however, military dispositions of a simple and inexpensive description might be readily made. Owing to the above causes vast and fertile plains are al "Izzet Pasha, the Governor of Jerusalem, has had the pools of Solomon and the ancient aqueduct repaired, with a view to supplying Jerusalem with water. This most desira ble work is now completed. "Jerusalem, Jan. 16, 1867." MORMON CONFERENCE IN MANCHESTER. (From the Manchester Guardian, April 22nd, 1867. The "Church of Jesus Christ of 20th March last to the land which Latter-day Saints" held their annual contained the graves of his fathers. conference yesterday in the Grosvenor- He loved this land on the latter acstreet Temperance Hall. In the after- count; but he loved the truth more. noon Apostle Orson Pratt was the He was thankful that he had been enpresiding saint, and he was supported abled to be with God's people for 30. on the platform by Apostle F. D. years; and only let him remain with. Richards and eight of the "seventy." them, he did not care how humble his The audience was composed chiefly of post was. The Latter-day Saints in young people of the labouring classes, this country were, he knew, of the with a meagre sprinkling of elders, lowest classes of society; they were some of whom, to judge from the pre- not, in fact, the respectable classes. sence of bundles and small baskets, This circumstance, no doubt, militated had come from the neighbouring coun- against their religion; but to them he try districts. After the singing of a said, "Be comforted, my brethren,' hymn commencing for it was written that God's people. should be few on earth, but His power great. The speaker gave a long description of Utah and the Great Salt Lake City, employing at the same time such arguments as to the substantial advantages to be gained by emigration thither as were best capable of influencing such an audience. At first, he said, it appeared that Utah, owing to its dryness, would afford nothing for the life of man; but the Latter-day Saints, driven from their homes, had overcome all the difficulty presented. They had now the most perfect system of irrigation. The saints would not trust to the "Great God, attend while Zion sings, The joy which from Thy presence springs." Elder A. Miner offered prayer, in which he gave thanks to God "for the care with which He had kept His saints from the time of His prophet Joseph (Smith) till now;" implored "a blessing on all the apostles" and asked that the kingdoms might soon be restored to the saints from the hands of the unjust. The elder then introduced brother G. D. Watt, as the first who embraced the Mormon gospel in the British Islands. Watt stated that he left England for Utah in 1851, and returned on the 278 MINUTES OF SOUTHAMPTON DISTRICT CONFERENCE. Young opened all the letters which passed through the place, and that in Utah there was a certain class of angels, he assured those present that Brigham Young had enough to do to attend to his own business without watching for arrivals and departures and opening letters, and that he (brother Watt) had never seen any angels. He advised them not to let lying priests or any newspaper or book de the Mormons had, only proved that they were of Heaven; they were the only people which the world sought, in its heart, spirit, and prayers, to destroy. It was sometimes asked, "What shall we do with these Mormons?" Let them alone was the answer. rains. From the dryness of the climate healthy people were apt to live to a great age. They had plenty of good bread and fat beef raised on their plains. The farmer there cultivated for his own enjoyment; there were no landlords demanding so many loaves per acre as rent. The folks of Manchester had to pay a high price for every necessary, and had to live in houses in which they could hardly turn round. They had to rise at half-ceive them. The bad character which past five o'clock, to dress while half asleep, and then to be smothered for a day in a factory; and all this in order to keep themselves from starving, and to enrich a lot of factory lords. Talk of fruit (here the speaker smacked his lips by way of appreciation), why, theirs was about the best fruit-growing "And what then?" it was country on the face of the earth. He queried. Why, he replied, they himself lately gathered five hundred would grow; that was the work of quarts of strawberries from a bed no their kingdom, and it would eventularger than the room in which they ally fill the whole earth, till it had were met. Any man who arrived at accomplished its purpose, and the will Utah without a cent in his pocket, of God was done on earth as in heamight in a few years become wealthy. ven. Poor people, factory operatives, He would heap up corn and beef in were those whom God had called to abundance. His sheep would increase, act in this great work; the upper and his lambs and his children would classes were not good and pure enough play together; indeed, the lambs and for God's purposes. He exhorted his the children would increase till he hearers to lay by their spare earnings, hardly knew which would be the most so that they might go out to Utah, numerous (laughter) and the bles- and thus work out their deliverance, sing of Abraham's God would be upon and concluded with a deep "Amen," him and all he possessed. Well, a which was taken up throughout the man's riches increased, and at length room.-A hymn followed, during the he said, "I think I'll take another singing of which, as before, the aposwife." There was no one to say nay, tles and the "seventies," as the elders and he did so. Their system of mar- were colloquially termed, remained riage was truly Scriptural. With re-sitting, their countenances true picgard to the reports that if persons tures of complacency and self-satisonce reached Utah they were com- faction. The proceedings closed with pelled to stay there, that Brigham a collection. MINUTES OF SOUTHAMPTON DISTRICT CONFERENCE, Present-Elder A. N. Hill, President of the District. Elder Marius Ensign, President of Southampton Conference. Elder Henry Barlow, President of Reading Conference. Elder Ezra J. Clark, President of Dorsetshire Conference. Elder Edgar Dalrymple, President of Channel Islands Conference, and Elder Ephraim T. Williams, President of Essex Conference. The Presidents of the various Conferences composing the District represented their various fields of labor, all HYDROPHOBIA. come. 279 which were found to be in a healthy Marchbank, by which the Saints and reasonably prosperous condition, greatly increased their joy in the Lord though prospects for any considerable and in each other's fellowship, and addition to their numbers were not so separated with increased determinabright as could be desired, nor as had tion to persevere in righteousness and before time existed. The reports truth until their deliverance shall from the several Conferences were such as met the approval of President Hill and the assembled Priesthood. The general Authorities were sustained. Much good instruction on tithing, emigration, &c., was imparted by the various Elders above-named,! also Elders Wilkie, Sainsbury, and The following evening was spent in social party, with refreshing addresses, songs, recitations, &c., in all which the fellowship, order, and joy of the Gospel prevailed. A. N. HILL, District President. HYDROPHOBIA. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir, My attention having been drawn to the letter of Mr. Pearse, Vicar of Morden, Dorset, in The Times of Thursday last, the 18th of April, upon the subject of hydrophobia, Í venture to send you a copy of a letter which was sent to me a short time ago by a friend, which you may possibly think of sufficient value to justify its insertion in your columns for general information-more especially as the season is approaching in which hydrophobia becomes most prevalent. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, S. "My dear Sir,-Every year produces an infallible nostrum for hydrophobia. The malady nevertheless exists in all its unknown mystery and power, except that it is believed to be purely a disease of the nervous system. Nothing is known as to the nature of the virus or its laws of propagation, so I have long dismissed keeping a list of remedies for the developed disease. You will be astonished if I add that I believe it never, or almost never, need be taken even from the maddest of dogs. "About 25 years ago I was sent for to see a fine healthy lad who, it was said, had been licked not only over the lips, but within the mouth, by a little terrier, which was found sitting on the sleeping lad's chest, and dipping his tongue into his master's open mouth. The demeanour of the dog alarmed the father of the boy, and I was called in to ascertain the fact of the dog being or not being mad. Now, on this point I did not consider myself any authority, and so sent for Sir Benjamin Brodie, who, though agreeing with me as to the probable madness of the dog, nevertheless desired that the late Mr. Youatt, the veterinary surgeon, and a most remarkable man, should be appealed to. He at once pronounced that the dog was laboring under hydrophobia, and turning to me added, "If you will come to me in five days at our dog hospital, we can dissect the animal. I did so, and found the dog dead, and Youatt busy in opening the carcass. I naturally was shy in touching the animal, and asked if he was not afraid. 'No,' he answered; 'I have repeatedly been bitten by my most undoubted patients (there were several in cribs there which I saw alive), and I never have any fear.' I asked how often he had been bitten; he told me eight times, and then he called his assistant or porter, and asked how often he had been bitten. He, I think, owned to eight, and, I believe, ten introductions of the virus, and be it remembered that the attack or bite was on the hands of these men, so could not be wiped off by any intervening garment. Youatt then told me his remedy was to allow the common nitrate of silver, easily procu It rable, to filter into the wound. decomposes the saliva, and in doing this destroys the virus. Whenever I am bitten I have a remedy sure and at hand, and no fear of the disease supervening. The actual cauterythe caustic potass-and excisions are, in my opinion, unsafe and liable to fail. The nitrate of silver chases the poison into the very capillaries and neutralizes it. Since I have known this I always use it to any bite of a dog, sound or not, and am at rest.' The above was stated in some Blue book about 30 years ago by Youatt. Brodie and I acted on it, and made our young patient's lips, palate, and throat, as black as that of his thoroughbred mad terrier, and he, if ever you see him, will tell you this tale. "The poison of hydrophobia remains latent on an average six weeks. The part heals over, but there is a pimple or wound more or less irritable. It then becomes painful, and the germ, whatever it is, is ripe for dissemination into the system, and then all hope is gone. "Nevertheless, between the time of the bite and the activity of the wound previous to dissemination, the caustic, or nitrate of silver, is a sure preventative; after that it is as useless as any other means. The best mode of application of the nitrate of silver is by introducing it solidly into the wound. It melts in an equal quantity of water. If already healed, the cicatrix should be rubbed and causticated away entirely."-The Times, April 24th, 1867. THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS' MILLENNIAL STAR. SATURDAY, MAY 4, 1867. "SALT LAKE MAGAZINE" Is the title of a new weekly, royal octavo, edited and published by T. B. H. Stenhouse, Esq., the editor and publisher of the SALT LAKE DAILY AND SEMIWEEKLY TELEGRAPH. A "specimen copy" of the Magazine, No. 1., is before us. It proposes to devote itself to Literature, Art, Science, Education, Poetry, Biography, Travel, and general reading, suitable for parlor and fireside entertainment among the Saints. We hail the appearance of this new Journal with especial pleasure, inasmuch as we believe friend Stenhouse has for his purpose the publication of a class of reading that shall contribute to educate, refine, and ennoble his readers-to create a proper and healthy appetite for profitable and substantial knowledge of the various kinds to which he proposes to devote the Magazine, and thereby supersede, we hope, to exclusion from the Territory, the paltry "love-sick and murder" sort of sensational trash which has been thrust upon the new settlers of that far-off region. At that distance from all great commercial points, it is no mean enterprise to establish a periodical of the character of the DAILY AND SEMI-WEEKLY TELEGRAPH, which has now a wide circulation, not only throughout Utah and |