Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-06-02

IL Is lanentahlc TO see the place IN which the
youth of our Saviour was passed sunk so low
in ignorance still | am by no means satisfied
but what the people are just as intelligent there
now as they were in those days. About sun
down one evening, heard in the street tremcn-
dous shoutings and on looking out saw several
hundred people, preceded by four venerable
looking men, bearing instruments like tambour
ines, while the people repeated in loud voices a
chorus. As there seemed kind of solemnity
about it, inquired of one Of the priests of the
convent the meaning, and was informed it was a
prayer offered up by the people for rain. The
procession proceeded in this manner through the
streets for several hours. and such is the en-
lightened christianity of the nineteenth century
at Nazareth. Various places are designated as
locations where memorable events in the life of
Christ ;ranspired, but TO me they seemed very
questionable Four miles northeasterly, is a
village designated as Cana of Galilee, and they
show the ruins Of very large house as the place
where the marriage feast took place, and in a
chapel near by are preserve two of the water
fH'' VI nNohN w nave bN'u uHth vi tut W
cason. Twenty miles to the eastward on the
western shore of the Sea of Liberals. is the site
Of ancient Caporneum, but the village has en-
trely disappeared. The sea itself is a beautiful
sheet OF water of eight miles in length by four
In width surrounded by high mountains. From
the south end Of the sea issues the river lord n.
had passed thus far eastward with the inten-
ton of proceeding to Damascus through the
country inhabited by the Drus $, but the COVER
nor of Tileras advised a return to the Mediter
ranean and to cross the mountains from Beyrout
! accordingly went to Mt Carmel. high ami
bold promoniory, projecting into the sea, near
the summit of which stands the convent of ST.
Elijah, and within the walls they show the cave
where the prophet dwelt. TIL nee | passed
along the coast by the way Of Joan D'Acre
Tyre and Sidon to Beyrout. These cities, tho
once renowned for their commerce and wealth.
have dwinCled almost to cyphers, being now
only the resort of few fishing craft. or those
small vessels engaged in the coasting trade
Beyrout has taken the lead of them all. and is
ulation numbers over thirty thousand, and large
amounts Of wool, silk nader &c. are annual
iy exported. The United States consular agent
for Syria resides here and is a most gentleman
ly, enterprising man. lie has already done
much to promote the agriculture of the country
by introducing seeds Of various kinds with the
American pillow and other articles OF husbandry
trhng compensation only is paid him by
our government in proportion to the services
rendered, and such being the case there is great
risk that the Office may be filled by an unworthy
person. Heretofore, complaints have been
made, that vice consulates were sold to persons
who cared nothlnl for American interests, but
sought the Office solely to have their own prop
erty and that of as many clerks as they chose to
enrol in their office excepted from taxation by
their government. Great care should be taken
in selecting consuls, where such extraordinary
powers are gwen to them as in the Turkish and
Chinese dominioDs, where By law OF Congress,
taey are solely empowered to try all cases a.
gains the citizens Of the United States, even
where death may be the penalty If man
shows himself to be a citizen of the United
States, no court in the Turkish domnons can
try him for any violation of law; he is solely
amenable to his own government
From Beyrout | made an excursion of ten
days to Damascus and Baalbec. The route
crosses the mountains Of Lebanon and Anti
Lebanon, and although the great thoroughiare
between Damascus and her principal sea port,
and traversed by a hundred mules and horses
daily, there is nothing but foot path, where
one mule may follow another 1t was amusing
to see them going down hill, tumbhng al ne
after each other. Not unfrequently | found
steps Of two feet perpendicular; there the mule
gathers ms hind feet as near to his front as he
can and plunges down, usually ming out right
If left to himself On such thoroughfare you
may like TO know the accommodation, furnished
for the traveller. Well, walk IN, and you will
see four travellers sitting on camp stools around
table, eating their dinner by candle light 49,
The room Is sixteen by fourteen feet and FIVE
high The walls are of rough stone, ad in
mortar, the roof fiat and formed of poles, brush,
and mortar, and the whole as black as smoke
can well make them. The ground forms the
floor and there is no window or opening of any
kind except very low door. Such was the
room furnished for our accommodation the first
night. Tho furniture was our own Our at
itendants had but shed outside for a lodging
place, where the mulateers shar the same
quarters as their animals Damascus is situated
on an extensive plain amidst perfect forest of
iiuit trees extending many miles When seen
from the mountains the view is beautiful, but
when you once enter the city the scene is
changed. There are the same narrow, dirty
streets, and the same rusty old buildings seen in
all the eastern cities. There are a few houses
ae.e, which Notwithstanding their exterior pos
sess many Of the luxuries of the eastern world
hey lave their marble floors and fountains
Their doors and castings inlaid with pearl aud
ivory and the most beautiful iresco paintings,
but these are not numerous. This may almost
be considered an Eastern city itself, as 1t is east
of all the mountains and connected by the des-
ert directly with Bagdad. Two caravans of
from fifteen hundred to three thousand camels