Litchfield enquirer., 1851-05-08
From, the Boston Transcript.
Jerusalem, Palestine and Syria, in
1851.
BY DIR. J. v. C. SMITH.


Nothing can be finer, more imposing or
digntied in the way of dress, than the
ordinary costume of the men in the Ho-
ly Land. Their heads, swathed in shawls
Or scarfs three yards long, give them that
majestic aspect of profound personages.
when not one in Eve thousand can eithar
read or write their vernacular. In look
ing at one of them while quaffing coffee or
drawing leisurely at chebone. one might
be led to suppose they were all pashas.
or multi from Corstanlinople, just as
children from the United States in Ia
king the cars for the first tine in Eng>
land or France. imagine the servants of
the corporation are lords and dukes. thy
are so heavily laden with gold lace, cock
AIDES and military buttons. For labor,
their long gowns, silk belts several times
round the body, red morocco shoes and
dangling sleeves. interfere with every
movement. They sit still better than any
people in the world, having no motive
whatever for moving an inch. They have
stout bodies without souls,-there being
no evidence that they ever think or
dream. All they know is the meaning
of the word buckshies--(give me some
thing) which is the first word they utter
after being weaned; and it is the last. Ms
they bid adeu to things below the aun,
in stepping from any part Of the Turkish
dominions into eternity.
Women of the upper circles appear
like ghosts in the streets enyeloped in
white cotton sheets from head to foot.
One eye occasionally gets loose, but their
Stacking gait in yellow boots, stuck
into long, peaked toed slippers. gives
them such comical air, that it is an
amusing sight to look at them. They
show their wisdo essentially in conceal-
ing their faces, since the little l have
seen of them convinces me of their uglI-
ness. Black powder is sprinkled on their
eyelids, their nails stained red. and the
under lip not unfrequently made entirel,
blue. Some stain the hair red. In Da,
mascus. even beggars fancy they look
better with red locks. and very queer old
women, in frizzled, betangled hair. red
as blood, press their claims most elo>
qucntly in the name of saints no one ev-
er heard of but themselves. ..' ..s
Were to give you description Of all
that is to be seen in Syria. there would be
nothing to relate on my return. Who
ever has the presumption to tell the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but
the truth, in regard to it, will certainly
hazard his reputation for veracity. In
consequence OF being a physician, it is
quite certain my opportunities have given
me a minuter insight into the social orgI-
nization. than could otherwise have been
obtained. IL | were merchant l would
establish an agent at Jerusalem, and an.
other at Damascus, the capital, 1.-The TO-
Gus of trade and fashion, and third at
Beyroot, being convinced that immense
profits might be realized by the legiti.
mate operation Of buying and selling.
OF this matter, however, more remains to
be said, which will be commended here's
after to my enterprising mercantile frienas
Palestine has many agricultura4 resources
never yet developed and the whole Of
Syria were it in the possession Of Anglo
Saxons. would be the garden Of the
world, as some sections of it was proba-
bly, the garden Of Eden. Wherever the
Turks hold rule, there is deterioration in
every department. Di'apidation marks
their progress and always has wherever
their conquests have extended. Put them
in posses sion of the city of Boston and in
six months the pilasters of the Merchants
Exchange would give way; the Aqae-