Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1922-04-06

abundant water supply provided by |
the ever-howing and life-producing riv- |
er Barada, the ALBANIA of the Bible.
Rising some miles northwest of the |
city, the river is conducted to all parts |
of Damascus through thousands Of |
channels. 1t is 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 as 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
semidarknesS 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 or bruise the
berries or seeds from which different
oils are extracted. Some will say,
primitive, indeed; but the Damas-
Genes reply would be that it is eff
fective and inexpensive; and, where
time is of little object, these are i'm
pOrtant items.
Views From a Mlnaret.
But the sights of Damascus are not
all on the streets. For a good view
of the city itself one must get the IA
vor 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 Damascene that,
although he is a faithful follower of
the desert prophet" the fanaticism
so often exhibited by Mohammedans
Is absent in him.
An interesting outlook of the city is
obtained from a minaret near the west
end Of 1.-THE street called Straight"
From this position one Immediately
appreciates how well that ancient
thoroughfare deserves it's name, for
1t runs in a direct line across the
city from west to east for about one
and a half miles. This street, which
is 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
it's 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 Moslem world, for in 1898 the
edifice had been almost entirely de-
strOyed by fire.
The mosque has had a varied ex.
| perience, being at one time a heather
temple, then a Christian church, then
held jointly by the Mohammedans and
Christians and used as church and
mosque at the same time; but since
the Eighth century the Mohammedans
have had the sole use of it for their
own purposes.
In the mosque is the reputed tomb
of John the Baptist's head, a 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.
diction, so that his superior officer
might see that the deed had really
been done and one supposed ineiter to
rebellion disposed of. When the Sar-
aeon cOnquerOr Khalid captured Da.
mascus and was searching the church
for treasure, he came across this
revered relic and caused 1t to be In
tered and covered by a fine structure