Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-09-10
WHOLE NO. 2S4.
VISIT TO DAMASCUS AND TYRE


troi, Correspond at Of Inc (N. W observer. In the
Mediterranean, dated MalIon, isle OF MnoIci,) FebA
| rary 10th.
At the close of my last letter, we len the
Delaware at Beyroot. and il may, perhaps, be
well here To speak of the visit made BY her
officers to Damascus. | need not say that this
city il one of great interest, from the fact,
that it Is the oldest ia the world, and also
from the prominent place which il holds both
in sacred aud piofane history. II was bulls
soon after the deluge, and was taken by Da.
vld, and afterwards by Ajax, who destroyed
IT, From this calamity, however, il soon re-
covered, and since that time has formed sos
| litary exception to the decay and desoatioh
To which other ancient cities have been SUBJ
ject. Though held successfully by the Gre.
clans, the Romans, and Saracens, and besieg-
ed by the Crusaders-tl though its heathen
temples have been converted into Christian
churches, and these again into Mahometan
mosques, yet Damascus still exists, a noble
relic of the oldcn time. There ia the street
which is called Straight, Of which Paul speaks,
and there too the fountain is pointed out
whence the water was taken with which he
was baptizcd--tle house Of Annanins--the
place in the road to Jerusalem where the
apostle was converted and even the window
IN the wall, through which he was let down,
when, to save his life, he fled from the city
by night.
The party from the Delaware, about twen.
ty in number, left Bcyroot, mounted on hors-
es and donkeys. They first passed Mount
Lebanon, distance in ascending and de-
Iscending of about "a miles. Next to this
was the plain of Coelo-Syria, which is twelve
miles wide. They then crossed the noun
tans of Anti-Lebanon, or Anti Libands, q
4.
the fertile and beautiful plain of Damascus,
which is styled by the orientals, "The Early
Paradise" II is enclosed by mountains, and
a river which comes forth from Them is divid-
ed and carried through all the streets of the
city, forming delightful fountains, and in 9TH
er ways promoting the pleasure and beallt
Of the inhabitants. 1t is only since it has
been held by lbralim Pacha, that Damascus
could be visited by Christians, unless they
assumed the Turkish dress, and our officers
were looked upon with many dark and an
cry frown. They had come in a Christian
dress, and wearing arms, to one Of the oldest
and most splendid strong holds Of Mahomc-
tan bisotry and pride, and the followers Of
the Prophet could i'll brook this intrusion Of
intidels upon the sucred abode Of the true be-
lever
! I will not here describe the thousand won
ders met with in this little oriental world, be-
cause we hope to visit the same region dur
ing the coming summer, and may thus be-
able to describe, more correctly and vivid9
than at present, the scenes which are then
presented TO the eye. Suffice il to say, then,
that though the road from Beyroot to Damas-
Gus is extremely rough, and often quite pre-
cipitous, yet, by hard riding, it was passed
over in two days, though four days are COM
monty allowed the journey. The party re.
turned by the way of Balbec, and more at lei
sure. The English Consul at Damascus is
much attached to our missionary, the Rev.
Eli Smith, and is anxious that he should
make that city the sea, Of his future labors.
Tyre was found to be larger, and moro
flourishing, than was expected. The predc.
tons Of Ezekiel, as to its total ruin, strictly
apply to the city on the main land. This
has indeed been as was foretold-like the
top of rock, a place TO spread nets upon,
and which SHOULD be built no more. The ci-
ty, both on the island and the main land were
destroyed by the Chaldeans, 573 years be-
fore Christ. All the inhabitants were put to
the sword, or led into captivity; the walls
were RACED to the ground, and it was made
terror and desolatlon. Insular Tyre was
afterwards rebuilt, and was taken by Alex
ander the Great. 1t has since been held by
various nations, and passed through numerous
changes. In 1884, it was miserable villagej
it's exports were a few sacks Of corn and cot
ton. and Greek, who was the only mer.
chant there, could hardly gain livelihood
During the last thirty years, however, it has
begun to revive, and now has about 1000 in.
habtants, and our own flag, and those OF
most of the commercial nations Of Europe
wave over the houses Of the respective coun.
suls.