The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-19
DAMASCUS as SHE Is TODAY.
Her Extensive and Interesting Ba-
zaars-The Walls of the Ancient City.

From the Boston Herald.
The baazars of Damascus, SAYS a special
correspondent, are quite extensive and
more interesting than those OF Cairo,
with which they are frequently COM
pared, because they are entirely untouched
by European influences. They are gener-
ally covered and some of them have
lofty roofs. In them arc found all the
products Of the East. Caravans go from
here to Bagdad and beyond, and a great
deal of merchandise is carried TO and fro.
There are special large, pretentious build
ings, with numerous domes, In which
wholesale trade is carried on. 1t was
rainy day when we first went through the
bazaars, and we appreciated the advantage
of going shopping under cover. The
largest bazaar is in 1.-The street called
Straight" Its great roof extends for 1000
feet, with small shops on each side 1t is
wide enough for carriages. BY the way,
this street is straight, though Mark
Twain made reflection. indicating that
the expression in the Bible (see Acts was
ironical. The consul who represents the
United States government in Damascus is
a Syrian, and that fact makes him per
manent officer. He is not obliged TO turn
over his Office to somebody else when a
new administration comes into power. He
received us very politely, and detailed a
"kawass"-a sort of official military es-
cort to attend US while we remained in
the city. This is rather desira-
BILE, as it insures respectful treat
ment Without such an escort we
might have unkind remarks thrown at
US, though we should not understand
them. The ''kawass' could not talk En-
glish, but another young man from the
consul's office also went with u.s. He
spoke English, and was an intelligent and
agreeable guide He took us TO see the
interiors of two very handsome houses,
one a Mohammedan's and the other a
jews. We did not see the proprietor of
the first, but the Jew took US into his
library and showed us copies Of the jew
ish scriptures on double rolls. As the
reader proceeds he unrolls from one to the
other. We also visited an English mis-
sion school for girls, in which the pupils
had pretty and bright faces. They are
mostly Greek Christians, but our "kaw
ass" who is a Mohammedan, seemed TO
take great pleasure in pointing out his
daughter in one of the classes.
OF the walls of Damascus, only the
lower courses date from Roman times.
Above these courses is Arabian work,
and, still higher, Turkish. IL is rather
unfavorable TO strong emotions when look
ing at the place where Paul was let down,
to observe that this part of the wall is
Turkish, not more than 300 years old.
About the most satisfactory thing we
did in Damascus was to ride TO the north
ern suburbs, where from a slope of hill
we got fine view OF the whole irrigated
valley, with the city set in frame of
verdure. All outside of this was brown
and barren. The domes and minarets of
the city make very pretty picture, in
the ccnter Of which stand the citadel and
the great mosque, which was partially de-
stroyed by fire only last year. Our guide
pointed out TO us the caravan roads to
Mecca and Palmyra, extending across the
great desert TO the horizon. This view
gave US by far the best idea Of Damascus
aud its surroundings. Twenty miles
away we caught the CLEAN OF a lake into
which the Barada (the ALBANIA Of script
ures) pours its food. Except In the
spring, IL is rather morass than lake.
Our hotel az Damascus, the Hotel Dia-
matri-Kara, was formerly the palace of q
wealthy pasha, and IL contains interest
ing specimens OF decorative work of tho
first class. II is very well kept-far bet
ter than any hotel in Jerusalem. In fact,
the Jerusalem hotels are the poorest we
have encountered so far in our travels.
Our Damascus hotel was built around a
central court, embellished by a hand
some fountain and orange and lemon
trees. Every window on the street in
Damascus, The streets being very mar
row, is covered by a wooden lattice.
You can look out through it, but you
cannot see into the room across the
way. II is considered very improper 10
raise this lattice. You might see a
MOhammedan woman, or she might see
you, which would make trouble. A very
peculiar eject is produced by figured
muslin, which many of the Mohammedan
women wear over their faces. IL makes
them look like masqueraders With masks. !
You see something that looks like |
features, but it is not. A roZuish eye |
may DO tw.HkliDg under the gauzy mate |
rial but i. is completely disguised. II is |
said q be unsafe in this fanatical com |
munity 70 show too much curiosity about /
the faces Of the women. Damascus /
women have a reputation for beauty. / /
regret 10 say that we are unable TO ex-
press any opinion on the subject The UNI |
covered faces We have seen ought not 10 |
get their owners into trouble.