The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-04-13
Damascus.

idle Of day and halt through country
constantly alternating between great fertility and
perfect tarennvss brought Us to Damascus, the
Qurou oi Eastern ci,ieS lis first view was one
Of tho plctures that live forever IN the memory.
Tor tbs last few mile, We had been riding over
SANDY, hlIly tract, oppressed with heat and ia
tlgue. Suddenly teI de j1ic from our Arab ad
vance guard saluted Our ears. We at once knew
| that il hailed our destination, and passing OF to
the brow Of the hill, the scene at once burst UP.
on u in all lis striking effect. Below US was the
Lin Il Ii CEuta, stretching northwaris and
souhvGIds as far AZ the eye could reath, and
bounded on enc side by az LnlGl,ting range of
hills, and cn the other 10y tie -nuw-cover,d ridge
Of the Anl I.iLl.us, The plain was but one vast
eXpMse Of ariditv, save where the BIradi shot
through 1t It's flashing waters. In its midst wav-
cd grove q score of mile, in circuit, AMI lUxUri.
ent with every tree an Eastern sun can warm into
life, from the lowly pomegrana,e with its vernil
ion petals 20 the stately palm with its proudly
holding pumeS lnlaid was the city, h,r pearl
set IN emerald. it. dOmes and mnsrc,s ulstening
under the nountidc sun, and everything man,lcd
over with the eUChantmcnt that distance always
gives to the view Of an Oriental city fastening
on we soon passed the city gates aui slowly
made our way among the astoni.hcd people
through streets and ba2aars, until we finally en-
tered the street called Straight of Apostolic
memory, and reached the house Of one Demetrlus
Greek. where we are now suUurring
Damascus has n population oiabuut l25,000 Of
which about 10000 are Syrian Christians. 5000
Jews and the remainder Mahumctans The city
lost last year quite fraction of It's population by
the cholera; no less than 2lO00 were spcpt oil
in twenty-five days have now been here four
days, and The time has been To me one of the live.
lest interest and enjoyment. here for the first
time see genuine Eastern life. uncontaminatrd by
contact with Europeans The bazars are richer
the people nre more picturcsqucly and luxurious.
ly lodged, and every thing i more tcdolcnt with
Oriental spirit than in any other place have cv.
or visited. The inhabitants excel IN beauty, and
especially in purcncSs Of complexion. No people
IN Europe have winter or delicate skins, and was
ut once struck by the fact because lld always
before associated the turban with swarthv ysage
No city is so well supplied with water as Damas.
Gus The Barraia, as II enters the city walls j.
aftihcaUy divided into six channels which nfe
made to enrich every house with fium aims aud to
send life and beauty through all the surrounding
vegetation. The streets are marrow but uniform.
" paved, and have elevated walks ON both siles
for foot passengers. Novchicle of any kind is cv.
er sccn but few camols or other beasts Of burden
u
cement; they are two or three stories in height
latrooied aua their exterior presents only bare
dead wall, relieved here and there bv n low IN.
seemly door and perhaps latticed window. But
let us glance at the interior taking, ns we Justly
may, the house in which now am as n specimen
rs all IRE built after the same pattern Coming
from the street through IN archcl passage, find
myset in IN open court, some 60 feet square, flag
yed with marble set in mosaic In the centre il
IN elevated reservoir, s feet by 10 constantly fed
with living water, and shaded 10y vines and lem.
on, orange and pomgranitc trees The high stone
walls which inclose tie court arc striped with
paint in brigh, tri colors; they are indeu:od by
spacious matted and divanned alcoycs and pier.
ced with many doors and windows, opening into
the various halls and chamte:s of,hc house. Tic
principal rooms are planned much like the an.
cient Greek saloon Tho door from the court nd
mits you into space some fifteen feet in breadth.
paved with marble aud ilail with mother of
pearl, aud having in its centre large perennial
marblc'ncloscd fountain On three side, uf this
square, and elevated above il, nte os,ralrs, each
nearly rs large as the lower area They are d.
yided from il BY archie. Of beautiful form and
workmanship and are furnished with r,cg IN, seats
and divans. The windows are either of stained
glass, or ARE draperied. with rich curtains. The
walls are provided with shelved inches for vases
OF water, shetbet, and flowers, and are painted
To u certain height IN imitation OF pArttcolorcd
marble AMI farther up with arabesque tables of
flowers, fruits, and omblena,ic devices The cell.
ing which Il ut least forty feet above the oor ia
panneled and beautifully pictured IN the Eastern
style Everything is on the mos. extensive scale,
IN oriental mansion usually occupying three or
ma ns ~, - set