The Raymer enterprise., 1922-05-11

abundant water supply provided BY
the eyer-nowing and llfe-producing riv.
er Barada, the Abana Of the Bible.
Rising some miles northwest Of the
city, the river is conducted to all parts
Of Damascus through thousands Of
channels. II IL also tapped to irri.
gate the gardens. orchards, and fields
outside the city that are constantly
under cultivation to supply the needs
Of the Inhabitants.
There are many pleasant spots BY
the rivers side, whittier the Da-
mascenes resort after the work and
business Of the day to pass an hour
over the coffee cup or the ever-accept.
able water pipe as they talk over the
news Of the day or the doings Of the
outer world AZ revealed to them
through the Arabic or Turkish papers.
Would you investigate closer some
Of the most primitive and interesting
'doings Of the Damascene. turn aside
to the place where the famous Damas.
Gus curtains are made, and there In
semldarkness yOu will find dozens Of
lads and men engaged In weaving
these requisites Of the home on the
most primitive Of looms, and yet they
are able to produce an article that
will compete with anything from the
most complete and up-to-date factory
In Europe.
Or. would you see how thousands
Of bushels Of flour and measures Of
oil are produced, you have only to turn
aside into one Of the many mills to
see that instead Of steam the patient
camel is used to turn the mill whose
stones crush the grain OK bruise tho
berries or seeds from which different
oils are extracted. Some will say,
primitive, indeed; but the Damas-
Genes reply would be that 1t 10 ef.
fective and Inexpensive; and, where
time Is Of little object. these are im-
portant items.
vlsws From 4 Minarst.
But the sights Of Damascus are not
all on the streets. For good view
Of the city itself one must get the fa.
yor Of a minaret keeper. and have his
permission to climb to the gallery Of
the minaret and from there look out
over the roofs, courts. towers, and
streets Of the city below. be It said
to the credit Of. the Dsmascene that,
although he Is faithful follower Of
the desert prophet" the fanaticlsm
10 often exhibited by Mohammedans
Is absent In him.
An interesting outlook Of the city ID
obtained from minaret near the west
end Of the street called Straight"
From this position one Immediately
appreciates how well that ancient
thoroughfare deserves Its name, for
II runs In a direct line across the
city from west to east for about one
and half miles. This street, which
Ii rooted In, still bears the same name
as In the days Of the Apostle Paul.
The principal attraction Of the city
is the great mosque, which Is located
In the heart Of the busy capital and
can only be reached through one Of |
Ito many populous streets. This spa.
cious resort for worship was rebuilt,
early In the Twentieth century, the |
funds being contributed from all parts
of the Moslen world, for in 1893 the
edifce had been almost entirely de-
stroyed by fire.
The mosque has had q varied ex.
perience, being at one time heather |
temple, then Z Christian church, then |
held jointly by the Mohammedans and
Christians and used as church and
mosque ut the same time; but since
the Eighth century the Mohammedans |
have had the sole use Of 1t for their |
own purposes.
In the mosque is the repnted tomb
of John the Baptist's head, q shrine |
respected alike BY Mohammedans and |
Christians. The local tradition says |
That after the execution Of the Mes.
siah's forerunner his head was sent
to Damascus, then the capital Of the |
district over which Herod had juris.
Iiiction, SO that his superior o1icst |
might see that the deed had really |
been done and one supposed inciter to
rebellion disposed Of. When the Gar.
acen ccnqueror Khalid captured Da. |
nascus and was searching the church |
for treasure, be came acres this |
relic and caused It to b. in.
TERED and covered by 1 Ane stuuetugA |