Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-12
DAMASCUS THE ANCIENT.
Moslems Steadily Growing Richer, Chris
tians apd Jews Poorer.

| MosIems Steadily Growing Richer, Chris
tians apd Jews Poorer.
| The British consul in Damascus, in a re-
port issued by the foreign Office, gives some
| interesting information in regard to the
| condition of that city and its neighborhood.
| Damascus sends to Beyroot and other
towns in Syria -four, grain and fruits,
while in regard to the necessaries of life
1t is practically self supporting. with the
exception Of Manchester manufactures.
Cotton goods were formerly all homemade,
but the great cheapness of British cottons
has destroyed the home production. The
trade of the place is almost stationary from
year to year; if there is an increase in the
trade in an article one year there is a cor
responding decrease the next, for luxuries
are scarce and the necessaries of life will
only fluctuate with the population, while
the exports depend on the harvest, which
rarely fails.
The population is given at 10000, OF
which about 10000 are Moslems. The
number is supposed to be increasing, but
it must be slowly, for the old walls still
surround the greater part of the popula-
tion, and the houses built outside are very
few. The poverty of the Christians and
Jews is remarkable, the Moslems having
of late years absorbed the trade and wealth
which were formerly in the hands of the
Others The Moslems steadily increase in
wealth, while the Christians and Jews as
steadily decline. This unusual state OF
things is said to be due to the loss of the
through trade to Bagdad, to the difficult
ties which those who are not Moslems en-
counter in business, and to the insolvency
of the government. The Damascus bonds,
which were repudiated to the extent of
a50O,000, were mostly held by Christians
and Jews, and the repudiation was heavy
blow to them.
But it appears that the wealth Of the
place has considerably increased in the last
thirty years, and it is probable that Da-
mascus will still further increase when
the railways now projected from the coast
are constructed. The expectation of liquor
ice root, however, seems to be doomed by
the discovery of roots of a superior quality
in Asia Minor and elsewhere. Apricots
form one of the chief products of Damas-
Gus. 1t is estimated that in good year no
fewer than II 900 tons are gathered Large
quantities are sent fresh into the neigh
boring towns and villages, while the rest
is dried or made into paste and exported to
Egypt. Hemp. too, is an important local
production.
Local industries are numerous and some
are of Importance The chief is weaving.
There are about 1000 looms for cotton,
wool and silk weaving. The first produce
calico, curtains and divan covers, the MAJ
terial used for the long coats worn by
Moslems, and for the cloaks which cover
the native women from head to foot
hand loom can turn out thirteen yards of
striped cotton cloth per day, but the aver
age days work does not exceed seven yards.
The cotton looms are constantly at work,
while the wool and silk looms are frequent
ly idle. The manufacture of ropes, harness,
hammered iron, copper and brasswork
are among the other industries. The or
namental brasswork and mother of pearl
inlaid work are chiefly supported by trav-
elers, who pay exorbitant prices.-London
Times