Los Angeles herald., 1908-11-15


modern perfection. had often imagined
what great sensation this self-propelled We
hicle would among the peasants in the
interior of Syria most of whom had never seen rail-
road experienced the luxury of a carriage
ride but did not expect the unusual CONSERVATION
which we encountered
Mr. Secaf invited me 10 accompany him trip
across the Syrian desert. at first feared that we
might fall into the hands of hostile Bedouins. But
l wished to determine the practcabllty of service
for tourists between Damascus and the ruined city of
Queen ZenObia, in the Syrian desert, Palmyra,
set fear aside.
Well supplied with gasolene and extra tires we
started with joyous anticipation initial jour-
ney from Beyrout to Damascus the picturesque
Lebanon Mountains. When about twenty
miles out of Beyrout stopped for refreshments for
ourselves and water for the cars cooling tank Every
person in the village of AinAnoub who saw us climb
ing the steep approach gathered in the village square
TO look at the wonderful thing that could go without
the aid of men or beast | approached middle aged
man, who seemed TO be the village philosopher and,
pointing to the automobile asked him what he would
call 1t in Arabic He looked at me with smile as If
ne knew that wanted him to express his SURPRISE
md said:-
you brought this devish machine into our village
INSIST. would call it the Magic Carpet"
Another who had recently returned from Cairo
called it "Pharaohs Chariot" and young girl ran up
and said in Yankee accent, "Why, that's an automo
bilei l saw hundreds of them in New York." and
began to explain in her way how the motor
worked.
AS left the village and passed the orchards and
vineyards we heard something like tbe crack Of
pistol. 1t 7as the bursting of inner tube. The
roadside full of natours (native guards) who
roam about armed with guns and heavy sticks Dozens
of them quickly gathered around the machine While
tne chauheur was busy changing the tires l asked
one of them to take ride When we had been
be let off, as he was getting seasick," and sorry
to say that those few minutes ride meant for him
good long walk back to his post of duty.
II - -
The summit of the Damascus carriage road is a
little 5000 feet high yet our car behaved remark
all Of he
cally that part from eh to Shotra we were able to
travel the distance in two hours less than by rail.
Future automobilists will find this road and ali other
roads throughout Syria fit for driving as under the
new regime graft among government officials is done
away with.
On reaching Damascus there was large crowd TO
meet the first automobile owned by Damascene
Women children and grown men came long distances
some III carriages some on horseback and walk
ing They blocked the way and pushed each other as
if it We're election night in Broadway.
Usually on an expedition by caravan from Dainas-
Gus to Palmyra the first and most important thing
for the safety Of the party is the leather water bot
ties and provisions for the five days journey on
horseback through the desert but our preparations
were altogether different from those of any previous
expedition to Palmyra. The first thing we had to
consider was how many of gasoene and how
many extra tires we ought to have. AS we expected
to make the journey, which usually made in five
days on horseback in enc day by automobile, we were
not afraid of water famine, but feared shortage
in supply of gasOlene and tires One can imagine
our dire predicament if such shortage to
We saw the imperative necessity of loading every
available space With the products of the Oil King
and attaching the tires to all sides of the
OF the five extra tins of gasolene which we car
ried used only three. that counting the two
with which filled the reservoir before starting
the consumption of gasolene for the round trip
five tins in all. The five extra tires all used
and we even had to change the tires from the rear
to the front Wheels and also use the spare wheel
We only carried two small leather bottles of water
for ourselves and the other for the cooling tank
and found them ample.
Il X II
We left Damascus through the street called Straight
and out through Thomas Gate, thence the Aleppo
carriage road as far as Katfeih. Here turned to
the right and went by way of the village of Adameih
In my fourteen years of travel have met many hospt
able sheks but never have met one whose hospitality
could compare with that of Sheik Daass, of Adameh
This honorable chief is actually happy at the sight
of strangers in his village. When we reached his
village intended to spend the night at JarOud,
three miles beyond, at the guests house OF Mohammed
Pacha EJaroudi, but Sheik Daass met us at the en-
trance of Adameih and insisted on our coming INTO
his house for rest. The moment we entered he re-
fused to sit with us unless granted him his wish,
saying
"Gentlemen, if you think I am worthy Of your