waters to work their machinery. The bread of Damascus is, for the East, good.

"One of our longest walks was in the after part of the day, along the river, and among the gardens and shady trees which line its borders: I could not but notice how the people were walking, sitting, or lying along the side of the stream, and how they appeared to enjoy its refreshing coolness. They were beside the still waters.'

Near the eastern side of the city I was much interested in meeting with a field of hemp. It was just beginning to blossom. It was the first, and I may add, the only field of hemp I have seen in the East.

"Most of the houses have balconies, or places projecting out on the front, having windows at the three sides. They serve the double purpose of giving access to the air, and enabling the people to see what is going on in the streets. These are more or less common as fixtures in houses, all through this Eastern world. The greater part of them have also courts that are open to the heavens; these, in several of the best houses that I have visited, were paved with marble, and had noble fountains of water in the centre. Some have more than one fountain; and the house in which I lodged had one perpetually flowing in the room in which I slept. There is water enough to keep their houses and persons clean, would the people but use it.

Noticing that the roofs and upper parts of many houses were greatly injured, and sadly in need of repairs, I inquired, and learned that last winter was one of very great severity at Damascus, that an unusual quantity of snow fell, and by its weight did great injury to the houses. Their mode of building is not adapted for durability. Their mud walls do not well stand the rainy season, however they may abide the dry. The wood they use for joists, and for supporting their flat mud roofs, is in great part the Lombardy poplar and willow, which is their most abundant growth, except, perhaps, the mulberry. This wood they put in, full of

sap, bark and all, and of course in a few years it must rot, and fall out of its place. Where it is entirely defended from the air and moisture, it may last for some time; but when, as in most cases, it is almost entirely exposed to both, no marvel if the house needs repairing nearly every year; and this, I am told, is not uncommon." -PAXTON.

"The houses of Damascus, generally speaking, are nothing else externally but cottages of clay, through which the thieves may dig in the dark. The aspect of their interior differs in toto from that of the exterior. Many of them may be considered as so many miniature oriental palaces. They are of a quadrangular form, enclosing a court paved with marble, ornamented with beautiful trees and flowering bushes, and having copious fountains playing in the centre. The lower rooms on each side of the court are raised above its area, open in front, covered with carpets, and seated with divans in the Eastern fashion. Their roofs are highly ornamented with figures of flowers and inscriptions, and a variety of arabesque devices."-Lands of the Bible.

"Damascus has long been considered by the Mahommedans as one of their sacred cities; and it is not many years since when their bigotry was so great that

Christians had to use much caution to avoid its outbreakings. There is a great change in this respect. Christians may now go about with little danger. We rode repeatedly through the crowded bazaars, and no one appeared to take the least offence; and generally gave their salaam with indications of kindness. Still, it will sometimes shew itself. It is not long since that Mr. Calman, a Jewish missionary, when engaged in selling the Scriptures, was taken up by the Mahommedans, and for a time feared that he might be put to trouble, but was released without much difficulty.

"Damascus is a famous rendezvous for caravans. The caravans for Mecca, Bagdad, and various other places, either pass or start from this place. Some had come in

just before we were there, and others were preparing for their departure. This gave some activity to the business of the place. I had not time to go out to the edge of the desert, where they usually encamp, and there to

see the grotesque appearance, the odd mixture, and pellmell state of things produced by such assemblages of men of all nations, and such herding together of man and beast.-PAXTON.

"Near the Eastern Gate, we found the Bagdad caravan arriving, and unloading on the contiguous plain. It consisted of not fewer than 4,500 camels, loaded principally with spices, tobacco, and a variety of Indian goods, a great part of which were consigned to the Jewish merchants, who, with their scribes, were standing ready to take an account of them. It put the whole town into a state of excitement. The noise and confusion caused by the numerous sons of the Desert unloading

their jaded animals, and resigning their charge, surpass all description."-Lands of the Bible.

"Damascus, and the region about it, is somewhat celebrated for its fruit of various kinds. The grapes were fine the apricots good and abundant-the plums the largest and finest I ever saw, being nearly as large as a hen's egg. I saw but few peaches, they are said to be good-the figs were fine, of course- -the apples indifferent. The white mulberry-tree is much cultivated, not for its fruit, which is but little esteemed, but for feeding the silk-worm. The silk forms a considerable branch of the Damascus trade, and the manufacture is carried on to some extent. The black mulberry is found in considerable quantities, and is cultivated for its delicious fruit. The white walnut is with the natives a favourite tree, the nut is rich, and of a pleasant taste. The tree gives a fine shade, grows well near the water, and is larger than most of the other trees. The sycamore is found here. The plane-tree is also found, but not very common. There is a very large one in Damascus near one of the gates. We measured it-thirty-six feet round. The karoob-tree is a variety of the locust. The fruit is the husks which the Prodigal Son would have eaten a bean-like pod with a sweetish meal in it."See PAXTON'S Letters.

DESCRIPTIONS OF DAMASCUS.

MR. King thus describes Damascus, which he visited in company with Mr. Fisk, during their Missionary labours.

"You see a great city thickly set with houses of a whitish appearance, which have very little to distinguish them from each other. The minarets, of which there may be seventy or eighty, with here and there a tall cypress, rising above the houses, are the only things which break in upon the uniformity. This whitish city

you see in the midst of a large wood, about fifty miles in circumference, with little variety, except what arises from the dark green of the chestnuts, and the dark mournful appearance of the poplars and olives. In the skirts of the wood is to be seen here and there a little village, with a mosque. This wood, which actually consists of an immense number of gardens and orchards, lies in a great plain, surrounded by chains of hills and mountains."-Memoirs of REV. PLINY FISK, p. 349.

"The lovely city of Damascus surpassed all I had hitherto seen. It has the appearance of one vast garden studded with houses, for every house is built in the midst of a garden; and it well deserves all the encomiums

bestowed upon it. The mosques and bazaars surprise the traveller by their beauty; nor is his astonishment less excited by the riches displayed in the street called Straight,' where all kinds of eastern and western pro