The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-12-08
Scenes in the East,

A JOURNEY FROM DAMASCUS TO JERUSALEM.
Though the Arabian Nights as tales are
fiction, as pictures they are realities and
perfect illustrations of existing Damascene
life and character. Every step through
the streets and bazaars al damascus pre-.
sents some person or scene that realizes
some description of the great Orential ro-
nance to the very life, and revives with
strange effect all the Eastern ideas and
associations Of ones boyish days. And,
apropos Of these same Arabian Nights
which we have expurgated with such scru-
pulous care, and which even the Egypt
: ians, corrupt as they are, have retrenched
all their grosser lmpuritcs--it is fact fl.
: nally Illustrative of French taste, that the
standard Partisan translation is a complete
copy of all the abominab,e lewdness Of the
original!
After delightful soiourn of five days in
Damascus, on the l4ih Of May we sad
died our horses and packed our mules for
Jerusalem. As we were about to start,
our chief muleteer, in spite of his contract
refused to accompany us. Without cere-
mony, we had him taken by public Off
Ger before the Pasha's Secretary. The
case was fully stated, and the refractory
worthy was sentenced to forty eight hours
Imprisonment, not however for the viola
ton of his contract, since it was a verbal
one, and, therefore, according TO Turkish
law, not binding, but because he had not
sooner notified us of his intention to quit.
Without difficulty we hired another mule
teer, and commenced our journey. We
rode southwards down an uncultivated
plain to the little village of Katana, which
we reached in five hours. Here we pitch
ed our tent in the enclosure of Khan. or
in simple English phrase, a barn-yard;
nevertheless, not a king in Europe slept
that night more luxuriously than we.
ga ride Of eight hours the next day, up
rugged hills and through rocky gorges,
brought us to Hadda, little village of the
Druses, nearly 5000 feet above the sea.
and situated directly under label Sheik.
one Of the loftiest mountains in Syria. We
encamped near the house Of the Sheik OF
the village, and after dinner he paid us a
visit. He was a. swarthy, fine.ookinp
man of about fifty, attired with large
white turban,. a large jacket of sheer. skin.
neatly dressed with the wool on, loose
Turkish trousers. large blue outer robe,
and red Turkish slippers. We received
him with much respect, gave him coffee,
and through an interpreter, engaged him
inconversation. One ofhis first questions
was to know fit was true that the French
had driven away their king Il He hoped
that the. English, would soon take posses.
sion of Syria, and free the people from
Turkishloppression. His own little village.
though wretchedly poor, had to pay an
annual tax oftwelve hundred piastres, Ia.
bout $500, and though the severe cold of
last winter had killed their sheep, ruined
their crops, and reduced his people greatly
toswant, not . para Of the exaction had
been abated. They received little protec.,
ton from the government, and were con !.
stantly suffering from the predatory incur
sions Of the Bedouines. \ He pressed ,Is
much to come to his house and partale of]