Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1860-09-13


Its people call it a pearl surrounded by
emeralds.' 'Of all the cities of the East
it is perhaps the most oriental
The descriptions of Buckingham are not
considered entirely reliable. But there
has seldom anything been written with hu-
man pen more beautiful than his picture of
the plain of Damascus. He compares it
to an English seat in the country, surround
ed by an immense park. The visitor in
quircs for the family, and finds that they
have been for year in Italy. Meanwhile
the place has been delightfully."- unkept
It's rich cultivation is everywhere partially
grown up; the trees untrimmed and dip
ping their branches in the sparkling rivu-
let's the roses grown almost into trees and
covered with innumerable blossoms Ev-
cry where is seen rich verdure, lu.. uriant
growth, with but such appearance of wild
ness as to give the finishing grace to the
landscape. Such, he says is Damascus in
il the bloom OF the year.
Damascus was conquered by David, who
made it tributary After being held by
Solomon, it reyolted, and afterwards was at
the head Of thirtytwo kings. 1t was sub
sequently taken by Asyrir and Persia.
After the battle of Issus, it fell into the
hands Of Alexander the Great, and Pom
pey annexed it to the Roman Empire
After being celebrated for its wealth and
splendor under the Greek Emperor, it was
conquered by the Saracens, and became for
a time the capital Of the Mohammedan
world. The sceptre of Islam passed over
to Bagdad, but Damascus is still famous in
the history Of Saladin.
1t was beseiged by the Crusaders in the
twelfth century, but they failed to take it.
Later still, it was captured, with circum-
stances Of great barbarity, by Iamerlane,
and finally fell into the hands of the Turks
under Selim |. 1t possesses too, high
moral interest, for on that beautiful plain
it was that st. Paul became obedient to
the heavenly vision
Among the points of interest connected
with this famous city are the Damascus
blades, so maliea5le that they might be bent
to a right angle without losing their elias
ticity; that they could sever down or gauze
floating in the air, or divide iron without
destroying their edge. For ages the Sc
crct Of their manufacture was unknown
Gen. Anossoff, in the raj mountains, how
ever, succeeded, in quite recent times, in
making a sword which seemed to equal the
best Damascus, with blade of rctieula-
ted lines such as always appeared on the
finest Damascus bIades-in broad stripes,
and showing bright, gilded reflection.
He cut through a gauzc handkerchief in
the air, and cleft bones and nails, faats
which cannot be performed with the best
English steel Anderson, in his recent
travels in Siberia, states, however, that the
secret died with Anosaot1, as these swords
are not now made at Damascus.
Another point of interest is the famous
Damask stufs. They are properly silk,
though sometimes made Of other fabrics.
Large quantities of silk are still manufac-
tured, and the Damask roses have lost moth
ing Of their immemorable beauty.
There is at Damascus a considerable
trade both with India and Europe. From
India are brought by the Persian Gulf,
Bassora, Bagdad, and Aleppo, spices, cot
ton goods, coarse and fine muslins, and gold
stufs English goods come through Bey-
rout and Tripoi The people are Moham-
medans, Druses, Oriental Christians, Jews,
sc. The population is about one hundred
thousand.