The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-03-23
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There is certain grape sold in The
bssssrs Of Damascus, called par excel
lenoe 'es Eeiney or The hsauuhI ltisA
white grape, large and long, very FRA
grant, sweet aud juicy, aud with par
ticn .arly hard skin, which onahles Is 10
bear packing aud carriage witboutiuiuy,
OfaN the grapes grown iu This district ID
I Is the favori,e, aud immense quantities
are consumed by the people. 3, is cult.
vated Ia village near Damascus, called
\ Darays, on the old Roman road south.
west Of the city, and there only, for
/ though often planted elsew here, Il hss
/ always obstinately refused to thriye.-
The following Is The legend Of the origin
Of these grapes, a. told BY tbe Moslems
Of Damascus
Mohammed, the Prophet Of God (whom
may God bless and preserve), was accus.
4 toned TO retire into the desert surround
ing the city in which he dwelt, each day
at the hour Of afternoon prayer. Ca
! these occasions be would allow no one to
accompany him aud much curiosity was
In consequence felt by his followers as TO
the object of these mysterious disappear
ances. One Of the most intimate Of them
/ (whose name is no longer known, more
daring than the rest, WAS determined to
I discover the secret, and one afternoon he
slealthily followed the prophet out OF the
town. After going some distance into
the desert, Mohammed said the afternoon
prayers. When he had finished, the
heavens opened, and ladder was let
down to the eartb,up which he proceeded
to climb. His friend followed close, and
when the door of heaven was reached, he
contrived, by hiding himself behind the
skirts of the prophets dress, to enter
with him unperceived He found him
self in the immediate presence of Allah.
Allah was seated on a magnificent divan,
in the celestial splendors. He was evil
IDENTIFY waiting for the arrival OF Moham-
med, whom he at once recognized, called
him!to his right hand at the corner of the
sofa, and commanded Gabrielle aud the
Lother attendants TO bring coffee, pipes,
sWeetmeats, etc. Meantime the friend
had been enabled, in the hustle of the en-
trance, to creep behind the divan, from
which he watched all that happened. AT
Tar a time conyahsation nayopd and n
game at chess was proposed. To this
Mohammed d-who was perfectly at bis
ease, and apparently well used to bis
compauy--would only assent on condition
taat the game should be for some stakes
worth winning. IL was at last settled
that the stakes should be banquet, to
be furnished on the spot by the loser.
The prophet won the game without
difficulty, and the banquet at once APP
peared. One Of its chief deicacies was a
cluster of magnificent grapes, such as no
mortal vine ever bore, or mortal eye be-
held, immense In size, beautiful in form
and color, and of celestial fragrance
AT the sight of the grapes the friend
could resist no longer. He stole out OF
his hiding place, and, while the prophet
and his host were busy with the feast, be
contrived, by minglins with the atten-
dants, to break off portion of the
branch, which be had in his bosom, and
then darted off down the ladder. Once
on the earth again, be waited quietly in
the neighborhood, and, on the prophets
temperance, congratulated him on hav-
ing played his part so well.
Mehammed was at first indignant, and
professed not TO understand his meaning,
till the reproduction of the grapes showed
him that his follower had really witness
ed ali that had passed. lie then bound
him TO secresy.
Aud as for the grapes, said he, do not
waste such precious fruit by eating it but
take it to Daraya, near Damascus, aud
there plant it, so that the earth may
benefit by yonr visit to heaven.
This his friend did. Now all men
know that The earth of the plain of Da.
mascus is that out of which our first
father Adam was created, and that in all
the world there is not SO fine or SO pro-
duclive Il soil; but Of all that plain Da-
raya is the richest. The grapes grow
there to this day in great abundance, for
though thousands aud tens OF thousands
eat of them, there is never any lack. But
the vines will flourish nowhere else, as
many can affirm who have planted tbcm
elsewhere.
And this ia the story of the grapes OF
Darsya, which will grow nowhere but
| In their own soil