New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-06
syrian CUSTOMS.
Hoo the People LiUe IN 4sia Minor.
Where Vice-C Consul Has 1ssaIed.

MageIssen had been the object of an attempt at
assassination The news came from unex-
pected quarter Those who recall the uprising
in the neighborhOOd Of Beirut little over forty
years ago know. however, that the same political
conditions exist there in other parts of the
Turkish Empire. The same unjust methods OF
IevyinS and collecting taxes are there. the sol
ders left unpaid to the same extent and
the presence of the Turkish soldier is hated
much there the other side OF the BOs-
porus. The fear of the Turkish soldier goes so
far Us to affect the size of the dOorways No
Turkish soldier could enter many Of the Syrian
houses while erect. because the doorways are
only four feet high. The Syrians DO not wish to
have any of the Sultan's soldiers quartered in
their crowded homes. like caverns in some
respects. and this is one of the ways they have
taken to show this spirit.
1t is interesting just to take a look at
some Of the institutions of Syria. which change
almost slowly as those of China Mention
has already been made of the houses. They are
one story affairs. generally made OF stone. put
up without mortar. or Of mud. The stone
houses look as IL they would tumble down with
the least jar. They have log roofs. hardly high
enough to permit standing erect. In the single
room are sheltered not only the members of the
family. but the living possessions Of the house
hold. such cattle. goats. dOnkeys and sheep.
The people do not seem to fear sleeping with the
animals about them in the same apartment.
certain traveller, who was passing through
Syria. near Safita, tells of Sleeping in "a Nusairy
house among the cattle. il stormy and
there was no other available place to stop. In
the course Of the night he was awakened by
what seemed TO him in his sleep to be the press
ing of a great weight upon his chest His first
impression when he awoke was that the coarse.
sour bread which he had eaten the night before
had caused him to suffer from a nightmare
When he opened his eyes he startled to
find that it was not a nightmare, but a might
calf" a calf had its forefeet his breast
and was looking down into his face.
a missionary tells of sleeping in a certain viii
lage while going to HUNS some years ago, and
having troublesome night because Of the ami
mails. IL raining. and he did not to
leave his outside He brought her into
the house and tied her to the foot of his bed
stead The heas biting so vicousIy that
he could obtain only little sleep. Once he was
awakened by the breaking a water jar
from which she was trying to get a drink Then
a cows horn became entangled in the legs OF
the bed while the owner was searching for
something to eat among his provisions. The
cows movements being stopped. the room was
quiet again. Suddenly the old woman in the
corner of the room screamed out Ell feras
ANIMAL talul fershetter' C'The mare is eatin,
my bed from under merD 1t was true. The
7 are had broken loose and was exploring Tor
fodder in the straw pallet on which the Oil
woman and her children were sleeping
Sometimes the seepers are awakened by
strange noises the roof. In villages built ON
the slopes of the hills a street or path may
be on a level with the fiat tops of the houses be-
low The passing cattle often will wander OF
from the beaten way and make excursions on
the roofs. The sleepers below may be awakened
by COW fights and other entertainments on the
boards of this extemporized stage. The falling
art and insects add 10 the ANNOYANCE resulting,
from these little side trips of the cattle
The level tops Of the houses are not only used
Tor promenades in the cool of the evening but
as place Tor drying fruit. Naturally the mis-
sOiiirles IN Syria, accustomed to houses of a dif-
lereht character, are not attracted to these dark
novels IN selecting places Of abode The sinner
stlt.onS Of the MOslemS interfere To some extent
with securing real estate. The MosIen believes
that the sale Of building will be followed bv
death in the family of him who has parted with
MS property They are not altogether averse to
seAig theIr houses, however. if the right method
or procedure is followed In ISIS one r,issi,rar,,
relates. great difficulty was had in obtai,i,,, d,
much needed building at Tripou for a cburcb
A building was found and leased for a ,e-io5
or seventy years, both parties underestimate.
that II was IN reality sale. for both recognizsd
that the law gave the possessor Of n IL =