The Rodney telegraph. (Rodney, Miss.) 1838-1840, 1839-12-30
DAMASCUS-TTIE PARADISE OF
SYRIA.

SYRIA.
The following description of the oriental
city Of Damascus is from the foreign cor
respondence Of The New York American.--
We have nothing in this country to compare
with il
Water is brought into each house from
level something higher than the first stories
A combination Of conduits admits stream
into the principal story of every house =
In the rooms Of state, there are marble
fountains continually playing, the water is
suing from which is used in the orifices be
low for family purposes, and then passes off
10 a pool in the court, where It is surround
ed by beautiful shrubs and flowers. From
thence it flows TO the swift running wator
from the canal which passes under the
house to the river.
The quantity of water which still flows
in the main channel Of the river directly
through the heart of the city, is sufficien. to
produce twice a. much fertile soil a8zpow
exists in the ensirons. But then d eher
sort of luxury would be destroyed, which
consists of beautiful hiosks that are project
ed out over the river fiom the rear Of all the
neighboring houses. Near the main streets,
the CofJees spread their mats on the bank
of the swift running river, under immense
sycamore trees: the idlers (nearly all the
population are Of this class,) there sit, smo-
king their boucks and nargilcs, and taking
coffee and sherbet.
In the evening, lamps are suspended
from the branches Of the trees. Hundreds
sleep out all night on the mats under the
trees. In every direction roundl lhe city
are fine roads, which were made Formerly
for carriages, with good stone bridges over
the canals. They are now SO out of repair
that they only serve as foot-paths, and are
everywhere sheltered from the sun by such
magnificent trees, as would make any one
stop to admire them, even in our own ma
tive forests
As yet we have taken but one long ride
among these delightful bowers; but | have
seen enough of them to feel desire to re-
main here year, to enjoy their charming
shade and fragrance. Although each side
Of the road is lined with high mud-walIs,
yet these dre in SO many places fallen down.
that access is to be had to most Of the gar.
dens and orchards, so that one can ride OF
walk into them whenever SO disposed
These orchards and gardens contain va.
riety offruit-trees: figs, pomgnnates, plums
peaches, apricots, almonds, and the largest
and finest English walnuts ever saw-al
lin the greatest profusion. The apricot tree
/ in particular, deserves especial notice, iron
the enormous size which it here attains to
II is more like huge, wide-spreading oak
than fruit tree, and is much larger thar
our largest pear trees. The apricot trees
are in full bearing, but will refrain from
stating the immense quantity Of fruit eacl
of these produces, lest you might supect m,
account to part-ke of exceeding amplifica
Etion.
The ground under those trees is covered
with all kinds of crops. 1t is rare to see
house beyond the limits of the city walls, s.
that a ride among the fairgrounds is delight
fully solitary.
i Were able to impart to you one halt o
!, the delightful impressions this beautiful spo
of earth has produced upon my feelings
/ you would be ready to join in my frequen
exclamation.
ssOh. ifthere be an Elysium on earth,
1t is this-it is this.''