Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-05-28
Letter from Beyrop.h.
Beyrouth, April II, 1898.

TO the Editor:
According to Samuel s: 8. g. we find
that Damascus was conquered by King
Tavld II is a very ancient city. The
o,IrIn of the city IL not now known,
b,rt that It is a very old city Is made
main by the many legends afioat con-
rcrnlus its origin and Of the great men
Adam. Abel, Noah, Elijah and many
more modern prophets are said by
Nohammedans to have been residents
Of sham. The blood of righteous Abel
Is said to have been split on the hill
aide north of sham, and as an evidence
the red lodges there are shown. which
are said to nave peen 5taiheu ny ms
innocent blood.
THE country around Sham for miles
o. one grand orchard filed with olive,
&c and apricot trees. There are, OF
course, others. but they are In the
he seer but they do not do well here,
hut in the high mountains of the Anti
Iebanos they are said to do well. A
Jew pears and few plums may be
seen. Pomegranates are also quite
nlentiful. Peaches are here. but not
the fruit Is eaten as soon as 1t Is well
formed, long before II Is ripe. Vege-
tables peculiar to the orient are found
here In great quantities.
After visiting the different shrines
and curiosities of the ancient city, and
after attending to some business
matters relating to our mis-.
sion, we left Sham one beautiful
morning on the Beyrout Damascus and
Hauran railroad for Beyrout. The
road is built up the Barada river clean
to Its source in the Anti Lebanon,
where 1t crosses a summit and leads
into the valley of the Bekaia. The
train winds along this stream through
chnrr'.s- dells and well watered or
chards, passing now and again some an
Gent ruin or bringing in view some
thrilling mountain scenery. Many
places the Arabs may be seen working
their lands in their primitive way. men,
women and donkeys, the whole family
at work at something. Villages were
formed at frequent Intervals either in
the canyon or on the mountain side.
For the mountains where soil Is found
are very fertile and the climate here
is delightful. Grapes and mulberry
trees grow in great abundance.
In the Anti-Lebanon are found many
fine valleys where cattle. goats and
sheep are found grazing in great num-
bers. Mount Hermon to the left or
rather west of the city of Sham, was
quite white with snow, even this late,
showing the snow fall to have been
very heavy. This winter has been very
cold all over Turkey and Syria ana
many people have in consequence suf-
fered a great deal. The railroad, after
making a long curve towards the north.
turns suddenly west and soon lands in
the valley of FL Bekaia. This rich
and broad valley is very fertile. but is
cultivated much in the same way as
the rest OF Syria. with the execution
that good part of the land Is laid out
into mulberry groves for silk culture.
After crossing the valley of El
Bakaia the road leads up to Lebanon
at very steep grade. So steep is the
grade that the ordinary locomotive Is
insufficient, wherefore the company
has had to put on the cog wheel sys-
TEN, consisting OF third rail in the
middle which Is cog rail into which
wheel of the engine is made to fit.
thus keeping the drive wheels from
switching. With this assistance the
locomotive does fairly good work and
the speed IL reasonable when the
grade is considered on both sides
of the Lebanon the view Is most beau
tiful. To the east and southeast one
obtains birds eye view of the Bekaia
with the Anti-Lebanon and Hermon on
the background. On the hill sides
are fine vineyards and odd-looking
villages; toward the top snow-capped
peaks and cool air. Looking along the
mountain side pure little streams of
water can be traced from their source.
trickling over the rocks and winding
their way into the Litany and thence
into the Mediterranean.
After reaching the summit, 1,iS7
meters above the sea level, one soon
catches glimpse of the Meditera-
mean. whose broad expanse IL like
huge glass spread out before the eye.
At the base of the mountain lies Bey-
rout with its orchards to the east, its
harbors and ships to the north, and
n huge sand hill to the south. De-
scending the east slope of the noun
tain the scenery Is ever changing. The
train seems as though 1t Is going care
lessly down the mountain slope. Look
Ing one way and one may see q whole
mountain-side laid out in well culti-
waited vineyards; on the other null
berries, olive groves. apricots, apple,
peach and plum trees may be seen
growing, many of which are Just put
ting forth their bloom; others Just
pushing forth their leaves, And for
every mile one descends the change
OF climate and of springtime is quite
perceptible. Pinion pine and cedars
are seen here and there In large
groves. And among all this vegeta-
tion may be seen villages. old and
new. summer resorts of all styles, an
cient and modern. Every hill and
every valley seems covered with
houses. On the very mountain ridges.
on the peaks, everywhere, buildings
are seen and cultivation OF the soil is
taking place some three and four thou
sand feet above sea level, yet within
five miles OF the sea.
The sight made a lasting impression
on our minds. 1t was one OF the most
pleasant days Off our travel; the eve
never tired. for turn where you would
the attention was called to something
new In nature and Its gift; as well as
In the works of man, that had been
spent on that historical Mount for
centuries. The people have seen their
days OF pleasure and their day of pain
as well. Many a bio, iy battle has
been fought on those hills, and many a
brave soldier has lost his life in the
defense OF his native hill. No one
need wonder why It is so well loved
by all, for its advantages are many
tn, r. F. HINTZE.
Letter from Damascus.