The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-04-20
Curtis Writes Interestingly on
Island of Sam9S.
PEOPLE NEVER DIE THERE
And Finest Cigarettes in the
World are Found in 1t.

through which the railway passes be-
tween Beirut and Damascus are very an
cient They date back 10 the beginning
of things, beyond the time when people
began to keep records, before paper and
books We're invented, when few men knew
their own language because there were no
books to learn from and the art Of writ
ing was undeveloped. We do not know
when irrigation was invented. Some his
forians attribute it TO the Chinese, others
10 the Hindus. but If the human family
originated in the valley of the Euphrates
The first irriga ting canals must have been
dug here. At least the same streams are
now used and the same methods for di-
recting and regulating the flow of the
water that We're in vogue at the time Of
Abraham There has been little change
fn the implements and habits OF the
farmers They pillow with the same kind
of a crooked stick today as they did in
The time of Noah thrash their grain by
driving hocfed cattle upon it. and winnow
st by throwing it in the air to let the
breeze blow out the chah. 1t is eNtrsor-
binary how the soil continues TO bear.
These valleys have been planted with
wheat and other grains for more than
019 years that we know Of. and yet they
continue 70 yield rich harvests as long as
water can reach them.
The farmers do not live upon their land,
but i'm contiguous villages. This custom
dates back 10 the time when it was unsafe
for them to do So and when neighbors
gathered together in little communities
for better protection. Occasionally there
rs case of robbery or kidnapping these
days. and during the harvest season par
1icularly the vineyards and the olive
groves have 10 be watched. In some dis
iricts the government furnishes the
watchmen: in others the land owners or
game for the purpose and volunteer to
assist each other All these arrangements
are reduced 10 system. and follow the
customs Of centuries. The high walls
about every ho-e- and every rrrnvarI
indicate very plainly that live stock and
other portable property are not always
safe But the farmers have more to fear
from the government officials than from
any other source. They are oppressed
beyond. all conception. The original tax
tlpon farms is one-tenth Of all they pro-
tiuce. but ehe tax gatherer regulates the
amount to suit himself and sometimes
SEXES half Of the harvest.
The right of way Of the railroad is fenc
ed off with barbed wire, and ali person
are forbidden to intrude thereon. A guard
IS kept at every crossing. although there
are only two trains daily each way. ono
for freight and the other for passengers
Donkcys, cattle goats. sheep. and some
times camels get over into the track from
the roadway. and while we were coming
r-fr, la fed
the regulation. The engine struck one Of
them as it came around the curve, and
Threw II. load and an. q hundred feet or
more. The animal did not seem 20 be
injured in body. but its pride was deeply
wounded. and it lifted up it's voice and
walled. a Adonlley can put great deal
Of pathos into its yeehaw. yeehaW, The |
train was stopped. The conductor got off /
and with the assistance Of the guards ar
rested the man i'm charge of the donkeys /
and brought him 20 Damascus, leaving |
the caravan to take care of itself. but I |
suppose the next caravan driver who |
came along. and the road was fun OF |
them. took charge of the animals for his 4
friend. 1t seems the noblest sort Of jus /
tice TO arrest the donkey driver however. I
and I recommend il TO the railroad man /
ayers Of the United States II farmer I
Is arrested and locked up in jijal every (
time COW gets on the track they viii +
not have so many suits for damages
Caravans of donkeys and camels still /
rompete with the railroad and are contin
uallv moving along the old highway be
tween Beirut and Damascus loaded with /
ali kinds of freight. grain. cotton, silk,
machinery fuel. poplar trees. dry goods.