Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1893-02-08
GARDENS OF SIDON.
SCENES or RARE BEAUTY m The OLD
PHuNlclAN CITY.

An Ancient city Noted Dor Its Many
\ Croess aud Cardens-- -PhoHieia =. She
Appear. To-day The Drs.. OF Its People.
| Their Garments and Their Arms.
The dewdrops glittered in the light ~
tlie just rising sun. and the air was heavy
with sweet odors Of hundreds of orange
and lemon trees with white blossoms.
The scene was picture Of marvellous
/ fertility. Orange thickets, yellow and
white with their double burden Of fruit
and flowers; lemon, apricot aud fig trees.
intersperscd with the more tropical palm
and date, al growing in the greatest
luxuf1ancc. At times we saw She queer
sbafllike leaves Of the banana. often 10
/ feet ia length. An occasional mulberry
orchard explained the presence Of an en-
terprising silk Inanufactory near by.
Every few yards little brooks babbled
along. the absolute essential Of this lux
uiiancc.
II Is not strange that this paradise o.
flowers and fruit is much frequented by
the inhabitants Of the crowded, dirty
town No one can ride through these
fair gardens and fail TO perceive why the
worship Of the old Bidonians was 20
closely connected with the grove. and
how from natures rich profusion about
them they learned 10 worship the idea of
fertility, which was the essence Of their
religion. The ancient Sidon, too, was
not crowded down close By the sea. but
was situated farther back In the plain,
and thus was enriched by ring Of em-
crald.
On the outskirts Of the gardens we
came to the cataconbs Of old SidOn.
which have been excavated by the
French. In the soft limestone rock ex-
tend long series Of connected chambers
which have contributed u few rude
statues, several sarcophad and mum
iniCs TO the very few mementos which
We have Of that enterprising people
who secured their alphabet in Egypt
and carried IL to Greece, and thus trans
mitted, with certain changes. the letters
with which we communicate our 10Th
century ideas. More Of the aesthetic art
Of Phmnicia is to be seen today in
Athens than in all Palestine. There in
the Mycen@ room one can see the richly
inlaid daggers, the beautiful ornaments
and the facsimiles Of the beaten gold
cups which were also manufactured by
these artisans Of oriental antiquity to
grace the temple Of Solomon at Jerusa-
lem. Every ruin of that ancient world,
whether in Phenicia or not, when laid
bare bears ample testimony to the skill
and enterprise Of this Semitic nation of
traders
Leaving these old tombs and the
thoughts that they inspired, we were
soon studying Phpnicia as she appears
today On our left extended the Leba-
non range, while in the distance rose
Mount Hermon. clad in snow. glisterdng
like PeBtelicus marble in the midday
sun. On the right was the blue sea, in-
to which we ere long took a plunge. Be
fore us the narrow bride path extended,
now through fertile although only half
cultivated fields, now over n rocky prom
ontory, which often jutted into the sea,
Habitations were rare and generally
huddled together for protection against
the Arab incursions
On the highways we often met these
modern representatives and probable de
scendants Of the ancient Midianites
Tall, muscular fellows, with the dark
Semitic countenance and black beard.
clad with the striped abba, a square
piece of goat bair cloth folded and sewed
above the shoulders, tho chief garment
Of the patriarchs and the mantle Of Eli
Jah the Tishbite. Underneath they wore
the kimbez. the long flowing tunic,
which appeared when they threw back
their abbas. About their heads was tight
ly wrapped the silken kefyeh. crowned
with the two heavy goat hair coils, which
encircled the tops Of their heads like a
large, black serpe.t. About the waist
was tightly bound the girdle, adorned
with huge, odd shaped knives, or, If he
be civilized Arab, with pistols.
An ugly looking speer 10 or 90 feet
long completed the outfit. an outfit well
calculated 70 engender green envy in the
heart Of an American cowboy. A little
detour enabled us to visit the black tents
Of Kedar, the abode Of these perennial
campers out. 1t is rectangular edifce
IS or 20 feet long, supported on poles
which 40 or 30 centuries Of inherited ex-
perience has taught them to slillfully
place at exactly the right angle. This
palace Of thickly- woven goat hair
cloth is held in position by strong guy
ropes. The sides are raised or lowered
at viii, according to the position Of the
sun or the direction Of the wind.
Within curtain separates the WON
ems apartment from the common re-
ception room. The cooking outfit. like
the dwelling. is characterized by it, Sc
we're simplicity, since fortunately the
Arab does not demand many course
dinner, and long years Of practice have
taught him TO dispense with a super
fluffy Of dishes, which is generally more
than one for a family.-Chicago Inter
Ocean.
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