Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-02-24
IN SYRIA.
An Interesting Description OF a
Long Journey.

lOllON lug Is SUI VI MI oOSo Pn
Balph of Butler and his letter will be
read with interest by his old friends
in this county. We take the letter
from the New Castle Ne1cs of Febru-
aFy Sth.
LATAKIA, SYRIA, Jan. 1888.
! Ed. NEws:-Since coming to our
! Oriental home, the NeaUs has been a
welcome visitor, and feeling that per-
laps some of your readers might be
interested in few notes of travel
taken by the way, or in knowing
6 mething of our everyday life here,
| write you briefly of some of the
things | have seen and heard since
leaving our home in Little Law
renee" Sailing from New York on
the steamer Italy, Sept, Z, 1887. we
arrived at Liverpool Sept. 20, after
a pleasant but somewhat tedious
voyage. Several days during the
passage were quite rough; the waves
rocking the ship like cradle. We
experienced very littly sea sickness
during the voyage; just enough to
convince us that the sensation is any
thing but pleasant. The city of
Liverpool is a very busy place. 1t is
noted for its large shipping accom-
modations and fine docks, of which IL
has now over seven miles in length;
but there is not much of interest to
the sghtseer. St Georges Hall is
one of the finest public halls in the
kingdom. The dray horses in use
here are splendid animals, the finest
| had ever seen. They work them
single one ahead of the other They
draw immense loads. We remained
here three days. then took passage on
g Mediterranean steamer for Alexan-
dria Sept. 25. While on the Bay of
Biscay We experienced some very
rough weather. 1t was while pass.
ing over this route that DR.. Dodds.
of Latskia mission, lost his life in the
wreck OF the steamer Sidon, Oct. -,
1885, of the coast of Spain.
When we left Liverpool the wealth
er was quite cold and chilly, out it
rapidly became warmer as we ad-
vanced, and by the time we reach
ed the Mediterranean we had the
most delightful weather. Friday
morning, Sept. 80, we arrived in
sight of Gibraltar. AS one looks
upon this huge rocky fortress he can
not tail to be impressed with its
strength aDd commanding position.
The fortress is about two miles long,
it's great guns commanding the en-
trance to the Mediterranean. The
African cost here is very abrupt and
mountainous; the Spanish not so
much so. We had quite number
of passengers on board. There were
several other missionaries besides
ourselves; they going to Alexandria.
Seven days after leaving Liverpool
we arrived at Algiers, Although
this is largely a French town, yet
are many Arabs here, and it is here
that we first heart Arabic spoken
This is very pretty place. 1t is
built on the hillside, the houses ris-
ing in tiers one above the other; but
| like all Eastern towns it has some
very narrow and dirty streets, Fac
ing the city from the harbor there is
a town to be seen on three sides of
you, which, with its many gardens
aud groves, forms very pretty pic.
ture. Leaving Algiers we did not
stop again until we arrived at Alex
andria, which we reached on the
thirteenth day of our voyage. The
entrance to the harbor is dangerous
A pilot came on board to take US in
A large number of Arabs were en-.
ployed to prevent the ship from moy.
ing into her usual place. but few OF
the ships men with ropes and axes
cut the ropes that had been run out,
and the ship moved into her place.
But such shouting and gesticulat.
ing | never heard before. Indeed !
think the only thing the Arab throws
his whole soul into is talking, and
this he does as if his life depended on
how fast and how loud he could utter
his words, throwing in an infinite
number of gestures by way of varia
ton. AS we had but two days to
spend at Alexandria, we were not
able to see much Of this land Of the
Pharoahs; but we took carriage and
drove through the town to Pompey's
Pillar, the Nile, Khedive's palace
gardens, etc. A large part of the
place was destroyed during the bonn
bardment few years ago. Many
new buildings have been put uI
since then. which gives it quite q
modern appearance. Many of the
streets are good width and are well
paved, There are many very fine
stores Nearly every language is
spoken here. The mission OF the
United Presbyterian Church. under
the care of Rev. Ewing, which is 10
Gated here, is in very fourishine
condition. We took passage on {
Russian steamer from Alexandria tt
Latakia, Our first stop was at Por
Said, at the entrance to the Suez Ca
nal. Many vessels pass through this
canal While here we saw an ele
CANT new steamer, which was said tc
be the largest that had ever passed
through Night came on, and oul
vessel having taken on her cargo, is
again on her way. Next morning we
awoke just as we arrived at Jaffa-
the ancient Jaffa. AS we looked ou
upon the town, the hill beyond, the
mountains in the far distance, we ex
perienced a peculiar feeling of awe q
this, our first sight of the Holy Land
We thought of Peter residing 'in the
house of one Simon. a tanner" o
Jonah as he sets forth from here OF
that perilous voyage, and we feel lik'
asking ourselves, can all this be real
or are we only dreaming?
Another day finds Us at Beyrout
the principal commercial town on the
Syrian coast. Here are banks, store
and busine ss houses equal to man.
found throughout Europe Almos
everything can be purchased her
that is to be had in European towns
We also found many narrow
crooked streets so common in th'
Arab portions of all these Easter
towns. Next day we called at Tripol
and took on large quantity G