Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-12-31
MISCELLANY
BUssORAH.

" Guy VI VI wv ~ ~
ries give such m magnificent ideas, is thus descri-
bed by Keppsl, in hs +" Journey from India to
England:
'Afer breakfast, we received n visit
from the Sheikh, or Chief Of DiThem-
mia, who begged US to pay him a visit.
His residence was Of the general aP-
pesrance Of an Arab chieftain's. 1t was
inclosed with a mud fort, and consider
| ing its situation in a sandy desert, GER
tainly did great credit to the protector.
The name Dirhemmia Is derived from
Dirhem, a small coin, signifying the ox-
peRse the building Occasioned.. In tax
ing Us round the premises, It was easy
10 see that our host expected unquali-
fed appreciation Of every thing he show
| ed us. That upoa which he seemed
most TO pride himself, were his large
reservoirs OF water, u characteristic Of
tho value tho desert Arab attaches to
this first necessary Of life. He mex
took US round tho Notifications, which
as he seemed to appeal to US for an o.
pinion, we pronounced to be tajoob,
wonderfully though we would scarcely
have trusted our backs against the bat
Elements.
The city Of Bussol all is inclosed with
in a wall, eight miles in circumference.
OF this space, the greatest portion is
laid out in gardens and plantations OF
date trees. II is traversed throughout
by numerous canals, supplied by the
Euphrates, into which they empty them
selves at every turn Of tide The album
dance Of water, besides irrigating the
gardens, which it does effectually, might
also be the means of. keeping the town
clean, were there not in the inhabitants
an innate love Of filth. Bussorah is the
dirtiest town even in the Turkish domin-
ions. The streets, which are narrow
and irregular, are almost insupportable
from the stencil. Some houses are
built Of kiln-burnt bricks, but the great
or number are of mud. From these
project several long spouts made Of the
body Of the date tree, which convey
! filth Of every description into the streets,
SO that a passenger is in frequent dam
ger Of an Edinburgh salutat'on, without
the friendly caution Of Gardez loo.
The old bazaar is extremely mean
Raiters are laid across rile top, and COW
cred with ragged mats, which prove but
a poor protection against the neat Of the
sun. Throughout the bazaar we OBJ
served numerous coffee houses; they are
spacious unfurnished apartments, with
benches Of masonry built round the walls
and raised about three feet from the
ground. On these are placed mats, at
| the bar are ranged numerous coffee-pots,
and pipes Of different descriptions. 1t
is customary for every smoker to bring
his own tobacco. These houses were
principally filled by ~Janizaries, who were
putting clouds from their pipes in true
Turkish taciturnity.
'The principal trade is with our Indian
possessions, which with the exception Of
u few English ships, is confined TO Ara
bian vessels. The return for the arti-
cies with which wo furnish them, are
pearls, horses, copper, dates, and raw
silk. The population is estimated at
sixty thousand, principally Arabs, Turks,
acd Armenians; but | have 10 doubt,
that on u close inquiry, there would be
found natives Of every country in Asia.
Dates are tho principal production here;
there are, besides, quantities Of rice,
wheat, barley, and abundance Of fruits
and vegetables.
"A traveller coming by water from
Buss0rah IS likely to be much struck
with Bagdad on his frss arrival. Hav-
ing been for some timo past accustomed
to see nothing but a desert-there being
no cultivation on that side Of the city by
which he arrives-he does not observe
any change that would warn him Of his
approach to a populous city. He con
iinues winding up the Tigris through all
It's 10 headlands, when this once
renowned city o fgardens bursts sudden
ly on his sight. Its first view justifies
the idea that he is approaching the resi-
dcnce Of the renowned Caliph, Haroun
AIraschid, in the height Of his splendor;
a crowds of early associations rushes a.
cross his mind, and seems to reduce to
reality scenes which, from boy ish re-
collections, arc so blended with magic
aud fairy lore, that he may for a mo-
ment imagine himself arrived at the city
Of the Enchanters.
'Bagdad is surrounded by a battle
mented wall; the part towards the pal
ace, as was the case in ancient Babylon,
il o%rnamented with glazed tiles Of vari-
Gus colours. The graceful minarets,
and the beautifully shaped domes of the
mosques, are sure TO attract his eye
One or two Of these are gaudily decora-
ted with glazed tiles of blue, white, and