Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-01-04
DAMASCUS THE ANCIENT.
mosioms Steadily Growing Richer, Chris
tiAns and jews Poorer

mosioms Steadily Growing Richer, Chris.
tiAns ana 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 It's neighborhood.
Damascus sends 70 Beyroot and other
towns In Syria four grain and fruits,
while In regard 10 the necessaries OF life
IL Is practically self supporting, with the
exception Of Manchester manufactures
Cotton goods were formerly all homemade,
but the great cheapness OF British eottons
has destroyed the home production. The
trade OF the place Is almost stationary from
year TO year; II there is an increase ia the
trade IN an article one year there is cor.
responding decrease the next, for luxuries
are scarce and the necessaries Of life will
only huetuhte 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, aud the houses built outside are very
rev. 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 Mosleins en-
counter In business and TO the Insolvency
OF the government. The Damascus bonds
which were repudiated 60 the extent OF
100000, were mostly held by Christians
and Jews, and the repudiation was heavy
blow TO them.
But IL appears that the wealth of the
place has considerably increased ia the last
thirty years, and IL Is probable that Da.
mhscus viii 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. Aprieots
form ona OF the chief products of Damas.
Gus, IL is estimated that Ia a good wear No
fewer than 1900 tons are gathered Iarge
quantities are sent fresh into the neigh.
oorlhg towns and villages, while the rest
~ ~ ofled or made into paste and exported 10
Egypt Hemp. too, IA an important loosI
production.
Local industries are numerous and some
are OF Importance. The chief Is weaving
there are about 1900 looms for cotton.
wool and silk weaving, The frst produce
cameo curtains aud divan covers. the ma.
ssrlal used for the long coats worn by
a. Moslems' and for the cloaks which cover
the native women from head 10 foot.
hand loom can turn out thirteen yards Of
striped cotton cloth per day, but the aver.
age day s work does not exceed seven wards
Inc cotton looms are constantly az work
while the wool and silk looms are frequent'
y laie' The manufacture Of ropes, harness.
hammered iron' copper and brasswork
are among the other industries The ~
namental hrasswork aud mother Of pearl
lnleid work are chiefly supported bv trsv'
s s.ers' who pay exorbitanb prices London