FROM PHILADELPHIA 191 



largely white, showing broad flecks reddish and yel- 

 lowish, and scraped comes off very white. Wanting 

 a mineral acid I could not determine whether it was 

 really alabaster ; I could not knock off a specimen and 

 take it away with me. It was not exactly known 

 whence these steps had been brought ; it was believed 

 they came from near Easton, 6-8 miles from Bethle- 

 hem, where it was known that several sorts of marble 

 occur, but as yet no alabaster has been found there 

 within the memory of the inhabitants. From Naza- 

 reth we saw at the distance of a mile the beautiful 

 farm, Christiansbrunn, belonging to the Brethren, 

 which lies in a pleasant and fertile spot. The farm 

 contains about 500 acres of land, of which only 100 is 

 good clean meadow. Some 300 head of black cattle 

 are kept there ; several yoke of draught oxen which 

 they showed us exceeded in size and beauty all others 

 I have observed in America. All the buildings and 

 arrangements here have the conspicuously pleasing 

 neatness, decency, and carefully ordered plan which 

 are nowhere missed in the settlements of this Society. 

 There is a water-wheel mill there of the over-thrust 

 description, a sort rare in America. The water is con- 

 ducted in underground pipes, and has sufficient fall 

 to ascend 20 ft. and turn the wheels. There is also a 

 large brewery, and a large dairy where much butter and 

 good cheese are made. Of craftsmen there is none 

 here except a gun-smith, an indispensable man among 

 the mountain poachers. The place takes its name from 

 an excellent spring in a beautiful stone casing, whence 

 the region for 5-6 miles around is supplied with water. 



