The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-10-24
DAMASCUS.

odHldSCus IN Tue idtSCett uVsf PSfN.st |
and most splendid city in Turkish ASA.
Founded, according to tradition, BY great
grandson Of Noah, and in all probability |
Justly claiming an origin as ancient, its name
is derived from the old Hebrew Damnie-
SEX. Ii was a city Of note in the age OF
Abraham, and from that day TO this it has
been great and fourishing. lis rulers have
been Of manV races, and the forms of gov
eminent very varied. Sometimes it has been
the royal city OF king or caliph, and some
times il has sunk to the position of pro-
yincial capital. After its capture BY Tiglath
Pileser, the Assyrian, il was possessed By
Pharaoh Necho; then BY NebuchadnelEarj
and then fell anler Persian sway. After
this the Greek. Roman, and Byzantine, the
Arab and the Turk, held it by turns for CEN
turtles but under all these Successive chang
es of dynasty, and whether ruled by native
prince, or an alien eonquerer. it has never
fallen from its high rank, or ceased to be
prosperous, populous, and wealthy.
SO much for the Damascus Of the past.
But the great source Of her beauty aud her
pride In all ages still remains TO her; and
splendid heritage are those luxurant gardens
which still enfold her, and those clear, cold,
dashing streams that bless them with fertii-
ty. These gardens are not the trim, we'll
kept Enclosures, of limited extent, TO which
we give that name, but are forests OF fruit
trees, apricot and almond, walnut, olive, fig
and pomegranate, beneath whose shade, veg
etable and corn crops are cultivated, or no,
ses, jasmine, and other flowers, run wild in
tangIe thickets, whilst here and there the
II. ok q aPla
and break the ronotonous outline of the less
ambitious woods. The queen, however, OF
these forest gardens, is the apricot, and ia
nous throughout the Eastern world is the
mishmish Of Damascus, and great riches i
brings her. Its fruit is dainty, small, and
white, except when bold sunbeam has stol-
en- through the Ieaiy lattice, and has left
burning crimson blush upon each cheek his
fervid Kiss has touched.
There are but few striking relics Of anti.
guilty in Damascus. A very handsome tri-
umphal arch and some great columns in the
precincts Of the mosque, and portal, aud
part Of its wall, are probably Of Roman date,
not older. The most splendid edifice, BY far,
that the city can now boast, Is the great
mosque Of the 0mmaides. Ii occupies the
gain was preceded BY magnificent temple
on the same ground SO that il is most likely
that from the earliest ages the chief shrine
OF the inhabitants stood on this spot, and
that Jupiter elected Rimmon. and was him
self dispossessed BY ST. John the Baptist.
Then when the Arabs were victorious, half
the cathedral was given up to them, and half
still guaranteed by the treaty TO the Chris.
tians. but ere many year. elapsed the whole
building was taken from them by the Callph
Valid, who layished immense sums on its
sdOrnment. The arches were wreathed with
gold vines, the inches inlaid with jewels,
and from the roof hundreds OF golden lamps
were suspended BY golden chains. The gold
and gems departed long ago, but the marble
tesselated pavements, and marble cvlonades
surrounding It's vast courts. still remain.
One Of its three minsrets was accidentally
burnt during the Tartar csnHsgration, and
afterwars rebuilt. Another the Minaret
Of Jesus" is $50 feet high. Close to this
mosque is the tomb Of the renowned saladin.
No Christian foot dsres to enter the mausO.
leum Of their deadliest but most chiyalrous
foe.
The bazaars Of Damascus are Of immense
extent and very picturesque, and IN them
the shopping Of great part Of syria and
half Mesopetzmia is transacted. Many a
Wild Druse and Bedosin, who never entered
. ciiy's gates 70 shop, scented plumber from
sfar, and rushed 10 10 complete the works
the raseals Of the bszaars had so ruthlesly
begun.
The samptuous mansions Of the rich pre-
sent 70 the passer.by nothing but high, white.
washed, windosIess walls. bit their numer-
ous courts and lofty saloons are rich IN mar
bic and fountains. and arabesques and gild-
ing. and fragrant with the blossoms Of eitron
and Orange-trees, jasmine and towering
shrubs.