The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1890-02-28


Of the dirtiest and most fanatical; and
yet, In spite OF It's filth, 1t Is very at
tractive. Its bazaars are wonderful, and
contain the most beautiful fabrics In be-
wildering profusion. But shopping ID
not enjoyable, as In our American cities.
The ladies Of our party were spit upon
and frequently treated with other ex-
pressions of marked contempt because
they appeared unveiled on the streets.
Even the Turkish women join the men
in these demonstrations, and q visit to
any of the shops was sure to draw Gu
rious crowd. Deformities of all kinds
are shamelessly exhibited and specimens
of elephantiasis, which causes limbs to
swell to almost incredible proportions
and covers them with sickening, fester-
ing sores, are exposed at street corners.
The dirty appearance of most OF the
houses found curious illustration in the
reply elected by an inquiry of the writer
as to the location of bank. "There,"
said the informant. "Do you see that
house on the next corner? Well, right
next to it is another with clean windows,
and that is the bank"
Naturally the "Street called Straight"
which is said to be the oldest street
known, interested DR.. Talmage greatly
and thither we drove the morning after
our arrival. 1t never was very straight
street, but recently it has actually been
Strengthened out, and now deserves its
name. A large portion of it is devoted
to the use of shops, which form part OF
the bazaars, and is covered in order to
make shopping practicable and compare
lively pleasant during the rainy season.
There, also, we found the house on the
wall, from window of which Paul was
let down in basket to escape the wrath
of the unbelieving Jews. The house of
Naaman the leper, on the site of which
there is now house of lepers, is not far
distant. Opposite the house on the wall
is the tomb of George. the porter who
abetted Paul's escape, as tradition says,
at the expense of his life.
No eastern city can boast of more min
arets than Damascus, and five times
daily the cry resounds from each: "God
is God and Mohammed is his prophet"
which constitutes call to prayer to all
faithful Moslems. Near every minaret
there are shops for the sale of camePs
meat, OF which every devoted follower
of the prophet makes meal once each
year. Huge sides of this meat are hung
out and attractively ornamented with
garlands of colored paper similar to those
used for the ornamentation of Christmas
trees. In addition each quarter bears
the government tax stamp imprinted in
pink and plainly visible. The Koran
prescribes the use of camel's meat, be-
cause Mohammed when shepherd fire.
quently subsisted on it. 1t is very pop
ular with the poor people on account Of
its exceeding cheapness, and it is said to
be as tough as it is cheap.
We remained in Damascus three days
and then left for Beyrout, the most Chris
tian city in Asia, passing on our way out
the spot where the Moslems claim that
Cain slew Abel, and also the hill from
the dust of which God is said to have
made man, after consulting Mohammed
as to the ACCESSIBILITY of SO doing, a pro-
ject4so which the prophet certainly fmust
have been quite agreeable. as present
seem to indicate.
LOUIS KLoPsCH.