RECORDS OF A JOURNEY FROM THE GREAT VALLEY OF THE WEST
TO THE SACRED PLACES OF THE EAST.

"

BY REV. D. A. RANDALL.

WITH

MAPS, DIAGRAMS, AND NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS.

The Universe is the Handwriting of God, and all odjects are words in th*

NORWICH, CONN.:

PUBLISHED BY WHITNEY & KINGSLEY.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, by

D. A. RANDALL,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of Ohio.

TO WHOSE SYMPATHY, ENCOURAGEMENT AND PRAYERS, I AM DEEPLY INDEBTEL.

TO MY SUNDAY-SCHOOL,

WHOSE KIND REMEMBRANCES DURING MY JOURNEY, AND WELCOME GREETINGS OF

MY RETURN, HAVE BEEN LIKE SUNLIGHT UPON MY HEART:

FOR THEIR PROMPT AND CHEERFUL AID IN MY TRAVELS AND LABORS:

AND то MY NUMEROUS

FRIENDS,

FOR THEIR ACTS OF KINDNESS AND WORDS OF CHEER,

THIS VOLUME IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED,

WITH THE HOPE THAT THEY MAY ALL ENJOY AS MUCH IN THE READING,
AS THE AUTHOR HAS IN COLLECTING AND PREPARING

THE CONTENTS OF IT.

1

INTRODUCTION.

WHY another book of travels and observations in the East? Ilas not the ground been traveled over, again and again, and book after book been written? What new, interesting, or instructive, can be presented?

The writer is aware that many questions of this kind will arise, on reading the title-page of this book. He apprehends many will think the effort an unnecessary or superfluous one; still, he has resolved to give the public the book.

1. Because books, in the present condition of society, have become an essential requisite for the dissemination of knowledge, the promotion of morality and religion, or the increase of the pleasures and enjoyments of the public. If the labor thus demanded is one of duty, the author should not shrink from bearing his share; if one of profit or pleasure, he has as good a claim to the privilege of writing and publishing as any other one.

2. The countries of which this book treats are those of intense interest to all classes of persons. Here are the records and monuments of the early ages of the world. Here are historic pages of which none should be ignorant. new lessons are continually being unfolded. the traces of his footsteps, the handwriting of his power, and the memorials of his mighty wonders.

From these, Here God has left

3. A book of travels, if written with taste and skill, will always be an interesting and instructive book. Each succeeding person, in his visit, will view things and scenes in new aspects; catch the inspiration of new thoughts and lessons; and bring truth to at least some minds, arrayed in new and inviting drapery.

4. Many of the books on the East are too learned for