The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-02-07
IN THE RAZAaRS OF DAMASCUS
Continued From Page Twelve

nine great domes. the tops Of which
were at least one hundred feet above
the dirt floor. The domes were up
held by stone pillars. The noor
covered almost an acre, and il was
packed with merchandise. In one
part OF it We're bags of wheat piled
high toward the roof. In another
were hundreds OF boxes of dates, and
in others barrels ind crates of frui.
and hundreds Of bales of Oriental
rugs laid one upo the other. Some
of the bales were enormous. one
eQualing a load for a
wagon. | was told that they came
from Basdad, and We're left there for
storage. There We're q number OF
these khans in Damascus ar the time
CT Christ, and there are several now
IN use. The space in them is rented
out TO merchants. the owners doing
u general w~archousing business.
In the Silver BAZAAR.
But come, let US go to the silver
bazaar.
This, like the warehouse establish
ment, is under one roof. 1t is com.
posed Of scores of silversmith shops
or booths scattered over a large room
OF more than an acre. Each mer-
chant has his own little quarter. He
sits behind a desk or counter. in
which are his wares. and has q rude
o]d-fashioned safe at the rear. At the
right and left. or still further back.
are his mechanics. men who are
working in silver and gold. making
all sorts Of jeMelry. Each h.-s 2 little
anvil before him and a miniature
furnace with a blow pipe, by which
he nlelts and shapes the metal to the
desired form. The Workmen wear
gowns and feZ caps, and the pound
ing can be heard everywhere. ] asked
some OF tho merchants to show US
their wares. They bring out heavy
chains Of silver and gold, rings set
with diamonds and pearls, and some
magnificent pigeon-DloOd rubies-
There are millions Of dollars worth
Of jewelry under this roof.
The customers are both men and
women, the former in gowns and tur-
bans, and the latter in great black
sheets with wells over their faces. We
stop and watch the buying and selling.
There is 9 woman looking at . BRACE
let Of gold. The jeWeler weighs it on
rude little scales and then adds the
cost OF the labor. Nevertheless, the
woman is not satisfied With the price.
She calls him a thief. and demands
that he do not rob her children OF
bread. 1t may b. an houl before the
bargain is made
What to Buy in Damascus.
I am frequently asked what one
can buy in these Oriental cities which
is worth while taking home. Damas-
Gus is a good shopping place for the
tourist. 1t is somewhat off the line
OF travel, and one can pick up
Oriental things comparatively cheap.
II have bought several rugs which
have come here by caraVan from Box
hara, and two of them are at least a
hundred years old. / will not give
the prices except TO say hat they
are much below those at which they
could b. bought in New York, and
the merchant has :greed to pay the
duties upon them and to deliver them
to my house in Washington.
Among the many other things sold
are silk shaWls for the head, such as
are used by the Bedouins, and table
covers of red or black wooden cloth
embroidered with silk. The shawls
may be bought from IS to IS apiece
and the tablecloths costs from IS TO
SIS.
A great many Americans TAX home
few purchase swords inlaid with sill
Yer, and the Damascus blades for
which the city has been noted for
ages. Some OF these swords are imi-
tations imported from S~oiingen, Ger
from Manchester, and are made for
this trade. Indeed, one must keep
his eye open if he would buy genuine
curics in any part of the world.
FRANK G.. CARPENTER.
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So Awkward
H.