The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-12-12

n"o nAooS 0n"i lniuk fio"o ioVnihS uo"h o'0A
. the sea. After reaching the top, the road has
. tortuous way round huge rocks and mar
row gorges for many miles, and then makes
very steep decent into the valley between
Lebanon and Anti Lebanon, called "Calo.
! Syria" When about half way down, we
could see Mount Hermon off to the right,
about fifty miles southwark. His majestic
head seemed to rest upon the bosom Of the
heavens, while soft feecy cloud hung around
the lower peaks like white mantle of peace.
Here was the Hermon of old, which will live
forever in the beautiful imagery of the Pro-
phets. On this grand old mountain are an
chored the revelations God has made to our
ruined race. For hours We watched this
goodly mountain as the Diligence came down
our winding way, and went dashing across the
plain. This valley which lies between the
two Lsbanons is the richest country of all
Syria. 1t is eleven miles wide, and ninety
long. In the northern part of this valley
are the ruins of Bsalbec. Near by the road
I saw one Of the many large mounds which
are found at di6eren places in this valley;
they are evidently artificial, but believe no
one has yet attempted to open them. On
both mountains are seen at several places the
remains of the old Roman road, constructed
when Syria was province of the Roman
Empire.
The scenery in crossing Anti-Lebanon is
wild and rugged. At one point the road
passes through narrow gorge with the rocky
cliffs towering up on either side 1,5OO feet.
At one point on the mountain where there
was some shrubbery and grass, We saw i'm
mense focks of goav, which darkened the
very sides of the mountain by their numbers.
The goats were all what We call "black and
tan," not white one among them. Some
of these nimble footed creatures had climbed
up to the top of the highest peak, and stood
out on sharp crag looking down on us
passers by with the utmost indifference.
Late in the evening as the Diligence dashed
around one of the sharp curves, We came sud-
denly upon the river Abana, with its gurg-
ling waters, and the green trees and foliage
on its banks. 1t was refreshing sight after
the dreary barrenness we had seen all day.
The road follows the river, which finds its
way out of the mountains through deep
narrow defle. About dark the Diligence,
which was going at rapid rate with six
white horses, dashed out of the mouth of the
gorge, and there was Damascus, the "eye of
the desert" the city of forty centuries, still
enjoying her ancient birthright on the banks
of her beautiful rivers. In few moments
we were at our quarters in the hotel, but the
question kept repeating itself, is this the Da.
mascus of old, which We had longed to see :?
After nights rest we started out early
to see the principal objects Of interest in the
city. We visited the Mosque of st. John,
the chief place of Moslem worship. 1t was
first built for Christian church in the days
of Constantine 1t is grand old structure,
and has seen wonderful history. On this
spot was the old Temple or House Of Rimmon,
in the days Of the Syrian kings. Here Naa.
man worshipped. The view from the top of
the Minsret is very fine. We next found
our way into the "street called Straight" !" and
it is we'll named, for it is the only straight
street in the city. 1t is the general opinion
that the location of this street has never
changed. 1t runs the whole length of the
city from West to East. Most of the stree.
is bazsr, or what We would call business
street. 1t is about eight feet wide, covered
over with the little work and trade shops on
each side. THERE'S quite number of these
bszar streets, all called by different names.
They are crowded all the time. 1t is WON
derful sight. Frank, Turk, Greek, Moslem,
Arab, men and women in all their peculiar
costumes are here. Through this narrow
lane crowded with people, comes the camel
and donkey with their huge burdens, and
every where are seen half famished dogs,
which are the scaNengers of the city. Into
this street Saul of Tarsus was led after his
fearful arrest outside of the city. Here he
spent three days of unspeakable anguish,
until Ananian came and baptized him in the
name of the Lord Jesus. We continued our
rambles out through the Eastern Gate and
round the south wall At one of the towers,
we were shown the place where Paul was let
down over the wall and made his escape
After visiting several of the bazars and the
jewelry workshops we returned to the hotel
weary and tired.
The next day was the Sabbath, and about
noon We walked up on the mountain which
lies back of the city, when the whole plain
was spread out before us. 1t was grand
panorama. At our feet was the old city of
Damascus, city when Abraham visited it
near 1000 years ago. Here still runs the
clear waters of the Abana, making Damascus
and the country around it the garden of the
desert. To the west are the bold rugged
cliffs of Lebanon; to the south is the broad
valley leading away toward the Jordan; to
the east, as far as the eye can reach, is the
parched, barren desert. With this panorama
before US we read the history of Naaman and
the little Jewish maiden, also the visit Of the
Prophet Elisha to the city, when Hazael mur-