Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1846-03-21
Danlascus--Its Women Paradise.
Alphonso de La MARITIME, in his Pilgrim
age to the Holy Land, speaking Of Damas-

OamasCuS.sltS women Y0ra01ses
Alphonso de La MARITIME, in his Pilgrim
age to the Holy Land, speaking Of Damas-
Gus sage: z
understand that Arabian traditions rep
resent this city and its neighborhood 10
form the site OF the lost Paradise, and GER
tainly ] should think that no place upon
earth was better calculated 10 answer ope's
idea Of Eden. The vast and fruitful plain
with the seven branches Of the blue stream
which irrigate il; the majestic framework
ofthe mountains; the glittering lakes, which
reflect the heavens upon the earth; lis ge-
ographic situation between the two seas;
the perfection Of the climate; everything
indicates that Da;nascns has At least been
one "fthe first towns that were ever built
by the children Of men--one of the natural
halts offngltive humanity in primeval times.
1t IS IN fact, one Of those sites pointed out
by the hand Ct God for cily--a site pre-.
destined to sustain capitol like Constaii-
tinopls. "a. ss "a
These are perhaps the only two cities
which could not possibly have taken their
post in an Empire from arbitrary selection:
but which were palpably indicated by the
confguration Of The places. So long as the
earth shall bear empires upon her surface
Damascus will continue 70 u great city,
and Starnboul the metropolis of the world.
On emerging from the desert and entering
On the plains OF Ceio-Syris, and The val.
leys Of Galilee, the caravans Of India need
fepose, and they find spot Of enchantinent
at Damascus. Commerce is there Mpheld
BY industry. Damascus is like Eybhs,
one vast mandatory. Its population &C.
cording to some reaches four hundred
thousand, according TO others only two
hundred thousand. ! cannot decide, and
indeed il is impossible TO do so, one can
only conjecture. In the East, there is no
exact cencus taken, and the traveller can
only judge BY the eye, BY the extent of
the crowds that innundate the streets and
bazaars; by the nimber Of ARMED men who
issue from their houses on the least signal
Of revolution or tumult, and the extent Of
ground which the houses cover, should
myself be inclinedto believe that those who
are inclosed within the city walls might
number between Three and four thousand
souls. But if we do not limit the town
thus arbi,tarily-if we include in the ag-
gregate Of its population those who inhabit
the immense faGberes and villages which
are COMPOUNDED to the eye with the ruins
and gardens Of the enormous assemblages
Of human beings, I should think that The
Territory OF Damascus might sum up i
million. - . -
The high opinion I had formed Of The
Beauty OF The Syrian females, and my vivid
recollec,ions of the charms Of the women
of Rome and Athens, all vanished a; the
sight ofthe Armenian women and the young
girls Of Damascus; we everywhere see
features SO eSguisitely pure and delicate
that the pencil Of the most expert Europe
an artist could scarcely render justice to
them. Eyes in which The serene light Of
It's soul Is diffused on sombre azure tint,
and with sottness Of expression which /
never saw in eyes before, compilations so
transparent that they vie with the most
exquisite tints Of the rose leaf, the teeth,
the smiles, the grace Of form and motion,
the clear and silvety voice is in harmony
in these beautiful creatures. They con-
verse with elegant and modest reserve but
without embarrassment, and as ii accus-
toned TO the admiration which they inspire.
They seem to preserve their beauty to an
advanced age. This may be attributable
TO the climate, and the peaceful lives they
lead In the bosom Of their families, where
mind and body are not worn, out by the
artificial passions of society. In almost all
the families which visited, found the
mother as beautiful as the daughters,
though the latter were not more than Is or
l6 years Of age. A