The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-12-06


characters, are the words, "Tby kingdom,
oh, Christ is au everlasting kingdom,
and thy dominion endureth unto all
generations"
Notwithstanding their hatred, here
stands the most sacred mosque of the
Moslem, giving testimony age after age, to
the eternal dominion of the hated Nazarene.
Here in this mosque is the tomb of the
great Saladin, and over his tomb is
preserved the immense turban which he
wore, being nothing but roll of green
cloth, about four inches thick around the
head and about two feet high.
They will show you in Damascus the
house of Annanias, the house of Judas
where Paul was, and the house from which
he was let down in a basket. Inasmuch
as Damascus has been frequently sacked
and burned by contending armies, we may
be excused for incredulity as to these
places. The street called Straight still
exists, although somewhat crooked. It is
now the chief bazaar of Damascus.
The Damascenes are the most bigeted
and fanatical of all the Moslem people.
They glory in Damascus as the home of
the great prophet, as the centre Of the
triumphs of his religion, and as the capital
of the great caliphs who once ruled from
the Atlantic to the Euphrates They like
the Christians money, but they stand
ready to lap his blood at any moment. In
1860 they killed in cold blood 5000
Christians in one day. We saw one little
Greek church where one hundred women
and children in their terror had fed for
refuge, and where they were all butchered
like swine by the ruthless Moslem. Much
of the zeal Of these people arise from their
pecuniary interest in their faith. They
make large amount of money from the
annual pilgrimages to Mecca, which start
in December of each year from one gate
Of Damascus, and return in the following
April through another. Thousands of peo-
pie Of all conditions, from this city and
surrounding countries, go on this pilgrim
age in one mighty caravan across the
desert. Bedouin chiefs of the surround
ing tribes furnish the camels. Some go
from holy zeal, some go for the notoriety
and honoro of the thing, and some for trade
and profit.
The great caravan is called the Hadj,
and every pilgrim who returns from the
holy shrine is thereafter called Hadji,
and wears the green turban. The Sultan
appoints some persons of high rank to
conduct the Hadj. They bear annually a
new robe, covering for the prophets
tomb, and bring away in great pomp the
cloth which has covered the tomb the year
preceding. The camel which bears this
cloth back, spread over him like beauti-
ful canopy, is called the holy camel, and
is fed on almonds during the journey
The day of the return of the Hadj is a
great festival at Damascus. We were SO
fortunate as to witness it. The great host
were whole day marching into the city.
First came long lines Of military guards.
Next came the leader of the Hadj.
splendid looking man, gorgcously dressed
in green, riding beautiful horse. Long
lines of Bedouins of the desert, mounted
on lofty camels, holding tall spears, and
dressed in coarse, flowing robes, followed.
Next came the pilgrims, thousands ofevery
description-some rich, some poor-men,
women and children, all perched on camels,
following each other in solemn, stately
array. Persons of rank and wealth rode
in elegant paviions, each of which con.
tanned family, borne ON the back of
camel. Each pavilion was about eight
feet square, and held two mattresses, one
on each side of the camel, which were
seats by day and beds by night. Some of
these pavilions were most elegantly fitted
up with curtains of colored silk and Per-
sian rugs. The more common people rode
on the ordinary saddle Of the camel, with
something like large bags slung each side,
containing children, provisions and uten-
sils-a whole household on one camel.
The garments of many of the Hadji were
worn to shreds by the long and terrible
journey. As the holy camel passed, bear
ing the sacred covering of the tomb, the
whole populace crowded up to touch him
and kiss the robe. The sight is most i'm
posing. The whole city throng the streets
to welcome their friends, or greet the pill
grims; while the solemn-looking camels,
bearing their ponderous burdens, led by
the wild. looking Bedouins, filed by for
hours.
Damascus is not so beautiful and striking
a city as Cairo There are no indications
of Western influence and enterprise-no
signs Of improvement The great idea
which seems to aetuate the people, and
which is seen in everything, is: "Let us
eat, drink, and take our ease" Selfin-
diligence seems to be the law Of life in
Damascus. They need nilroad to start
them on the march of progress, and its
shrill whistle to awaken them from the
slumber of ages.
When person feels disposed to over
estimate his own importance, let him re-
member that mankind got along very well
before his birth, and that in all probabili.
ty, they will got along very well after his