Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-07-05
A VISIT TO DAMASCUS
A TRAVELLER WRITES OF WHAT HE
SAW IN THIS FAMOUS CITY.

It's Extensive and Interesting Bazaars-Ths
wonderful walls of Damascus and the
view Ono Has From Them-The Moham-
medan Women and Their Masks.
The bazaars of Damascus are quite
extensive and more interesting than
those Of Cairo. with which they are fire.
quently compared, because they are en-
tirely untouched by European infiu-
ences They are generally covered, and
some of them have lofty roofs In them
are found all the products of the east
Caravans go from here to Bagdad and
beyond, and o great deal of merchan-
disc is carried to and fro. There are spe-
cial large, pretentious buildings, with
domes, in which wholesale
trade is carried on. 1t was a rainy day
when we first went through the bazaars,
and we appreciated the advantage of 60
ing shopping under cover.
The largest bazaar is in 1.-The street
called Straight. Its great roof extends
for 2, 900 feet, with small shops ON each
side. 1t is wide enough for carriages.
By tho way, this street is straight,
though Mark Twain made reflection
indicating that the expression in the
Bible (see Acts) was ironical. The con-
sui who represents the United States
government in Damascus is Syrian,
and that fact makes him q permanent
officer. He is not obliged to turn over
his Office to somebody else when q new
administration comes into power.
He received US very politely and de-
tailed q "kawass' sort of official mil.
itary escort-to attend us while we re-
manned in the city. This is rather desir-
able, as it insures respectful treatment.
Without such an escort we might have
unkind remarks thrown Mt us, though
we should not understand them. The
''kawass" could not talk English, but
another young man from the consul's
office also went with Us. He spoke Eng
lish and was an intelligent and agree
able guide. He took US to see the mte-
riors of two very handsome houses, one
q Mohammcdan's and the other jews.
We did not see the proprietor of the
first, but the Jew took us into his libra
~ and showed US copies of the Jewish
er 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 ''ka-
wass," 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 tho
lower courses date from Roman times.
Above these courses is Arabian work,
and, still higher, Turkish. 1t is rather
unfavorable to strong emotions when
looking Mt the place where Paul was let
down to observe that this part of the
wall is Turkish, not more than 800
years old.
About the most satisfactory thing we
did in Damascus was q ride to the
northern suburbs, where from the slope
of a hill we'got n fine view of the whole
irrigated valley, with the city set in a
frame of verdure. All outside of this
was brown and barren. The domes and
minarets of the city make a very pretty
picture in the center of which stand
the citadel and the great mosque, which
was partially destroyed by fire only last
year. Our guido 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 and its surround
ings. Twenty miles away We caught the
CLEAN of n lake, into which the Barada
1.-THE ALBANIA of Scriptures pours its food.
Except in the spring it is rather mo-
rass than a lake
Our hotel ut Damascus, the Hotel
Diamatri- Kara, was formerly the palace
of q wealthy pasha, and it contained in
teresting specimens of decorative work
of the first class. 1t is very we'll kept
far better than any hotel in Jerusalem.
In fact, the Jerusalem hotels arc the
poorest we have encountered 80 far in
our travels. Our Damascus hotel was
built around a central court, embellish-
ed by handsome fountain and orange
and lemon trees Every window on the
street in Damascus, the streets being
narrow, is covered by n wooden lattice.
You can look out through it. but you
cannot sec into the room across tho way.
1t is considered very improper to raise
this lattice. You might see Moham-
medan woman, or she might see you.
which would make trouble \ very pc
culiar effect Is produced by figured
muslin which many of the Mohammc-
dan women wear over their faces 1t
makes them look like masqueraders
with masks You see something that
looks like features, but 1t is not 4
roguish eye may be twinkling under the
gauzy material. but it is completely dis
guised. 1t is said to be unsafe in this
fanatical community to show too much
curiosity about the faces of the women.
Damascus women have a reputation for
beauty. regret to say that we are I'M
able to express any opinion ON the sub
ject The uncovered faces we have seen
ought not to get their owners into
trouble Cor. Boston Herald.