DAL 



566 



D A M 



Dahnatja 



Morlachi- 

 ans. 



bers, which is likely enough to take place, and the ap- 

 pearance of some able and enterprising chief among 

 them, might render them extremely formidable to the 

 more inhabited and civilised parts of Dalmatia. 



The third class of inhabitants are the Morlachians. 

 According to Abbe Fortis, the name' is derived from 

 two words, more, sea, and ulah, black, and indicates, 

 that they originally came from the Black Sea. One thing 

 is evident, that then 1 language, dress, customs, and cha- 

 racter, demonstrate them to have had a different origin 

 from the inhabitants »f the maritime districts of the 

 country. Among themselves, the Morlachians have se- 

 veral diversities, which seem to prove either that they 

 were not of the same race from the beginning, or that 

 some extraordinary revolutions have happened among 

 them since they settled in Dalmatia. The Morlachians 

 of the vallies of Kotar, and of the plains of Scign and 

 Knin, are generally of a fair complexion, with blue eyes, 

 broad face, and flat noses, and in character they are 

 mild, honest, and docile. But the Morlachians of Dou- 

 are and of Vergoraz, a mountainous and sterile district, 

 have an olive complexion, long countenance, and slender 

 form ; and are fierce, proud, bold, and enterprising. The 

 Morlachians, who live at a distance from the sea and the 

 garrison towns, are distinguished by probity and since- 

 rity. These qualities lead them to put a degree of con- 

 fidence in the goodness of others, which degenerates 

 sometimes into good nature and simplicity. The Ita- 

 lians, by their tricks and impositions, have done a great 

 deal to make them shy and suspicious, though they still 

 show generosity and hospitality to strangers, — virtues 

 which are practised alike by the poor and the rich. 

 They are very punctual in fulfilling their engagements, 

 and paying their debts. Ignorant of domestic economy, 

 they resemble the Hottentots in some respects, and will 

 often devour in a week as much provision as would 

 serve them for many months. Their friendships are 

 very durable. Indeed these are formed by religious 

 ceremonies. In the Slavonian ritual, there is a formula 

 for giving a public and solemn benediction to the union 

 of two friends. This practice is not so prevalent as it 

 was formerly. Equally strong and lasting are their re- 

 sentments. A Morlachian will requite a favour, but he 

 knows nothing about forgiving an injury. The Mor- 

 lachians are naturally lively and ingenious; but the 

 disadvantages of their situation have prevented them 

 " from making any considerable progress even in the most 

 useful and necessary arts. With respect to religion, they 

 are extremely superstitious, and believe firmly in ghosts, 

 witchcraft, and enchantments. They belong partly to 

 the Greek and partly to the Romish church. The two 

 communions have an inveterate hatred at each other ; 

 and with regard to all ecclesiastical matters, are equally 

 in a most wretched state. The manners of the Morla- 

 chians are simple. The female sex is treated with much 

 contempt, and often with cruelty, especially after mar- 

 riage. Their ordinary food is milk, prepared in every 

 different way ; and sometimes the flour of barley, wheat, 

 &c. made into a sort of thin cakes. The cottages which 

 they live in are mean, smoky, and ill furnished ; and 

 very rarely is a tolerably good house to be seen even in 

 possession of the wealthy. They sleep on the ground 

 wrapt in a large thick cloak. Their dress is simple and 

 economical. When they go from home, they always 

 carry a fusee over their shoulder. And when com- 

 pletely armed, they also take one or two pistols, and an 

 enormous knife. They are much given to dancing, 

 poetry, and music. The Abbe Fortis has given a spe- 

 cimen of their poetry in a funeral song, which has a 

 5 



Origir; 



History; 



Siiuaron. 



great deal of simplicity and tenderness. See the Tra- Damascus. 

 vels of L. F. Cassas in Istria and Dalmatia, by Jos. S ™""Y"^"' 

 Lavallee; and Voyage en Dalmalie, par M. L'Abbe 

 Fortis, trad, de l'ltalien. (t) 



DAMASCUS, a celebrated city of Asia, and ancient- 

 ly the capital of Syria, may be accounted one of the most 

 venerable places in the world for its antiquity. It is 

 supposed to have been founded by Uz, the son of Aram ; 

 and is, at least, known to have subsisted in the time of 

 Abraham. (Gen. xv. 2.) It was the residence of the 

 Syrian kings, during the space of three centuries ; and 

 experienced a number of vicissitudes in every period 

 of its history. Its sovereign, Hadad, whom Josephus 

 calls the first of its kings, was conquered by David king 

 of Israel. In the reign of Ahaz, it was taken by Tig- 

 lathpileser, who slew its last king Rezin, and added its 

 provinces to the Assyrian empire. It was taken and 

 plundered also by Sennacherib, Nebuchadnezzar, the 

 generals of Alexander the Great, Judas Maccabeus, and 

 at length by the Romans in the war cqnducted by Pom- 

 pey against Tigranes, in the year before Christ 65. 

 During the time of the Emperors it was one of their 

 principal arsenals in Asia, and is celebrated by the Em- 

 peror Julian as, even in his day, " the eye of the whole 

 East." About the year 634, it was taken by the Sara- 

 cen princes, who made it the place of their residence, 

 till Bagdad was prepared for their reception ; and, after 

 suffering a variety of revolutions, it was taken and de- 

 stroyed by Tamerlane, A. D. 14-00. It was repaired 

 by the Mamelukes, when they gained possession of 

 Syria ; but was wrested from them by the Turks in 

 1 506' ; and since that period, has formed the capital of 

 one of their pashalics. The modern city, called Damas, 

 Domeschk, Scham Sherif, is delightfully situated, about 

 50 miles from the sea, in a fertile and extensive plain, 

 watered by a river which the Greeks called Chrysorrho- 

 as, or golden river, but which is now known by the 

 name of Barrady, and of which the ancient Abana and 

 Pharphar are supposed to have been branches. The 

 city is nearly two miles in length from its north-east to 2Scn P- 

 its north-west extremity, but of very inconsiderable 

 breadth, especially near the middle of its extent, where 

 its width is much contracted. It is surrounded by a 

 circular wall, which is strong though not lofty ; but its 

 suburbs are extensive and irregular. Its streets are 

 narrow, and one of them called Straight, mentioned in 

 Acts, ix. 11. still runs through the city about half a 

 mile in length. The houses, especially those which 

 front the streets, are very indifferently built, chiefly of 

 mud formed into the shape of bricks and dried in the 

 sun ; but those towards tire gardens, and in the squares, 

 present a more handsome appearance. In these mud 

 walls, however, the gates and doors are often adorned 

 with marble portals, carved and inlaid with great beau- 

 ty and variety ; and the inside of the habitation, which 

 is generally a large square court, is ornamented with 

 fragrant trees and marble fountains, and surrounded 

 with splendid apartments, furnished and painted in the 

 highest style of luxury. The market places are well 

 constructed, and adorned with a rich colonnade of varie- 

 gated marble. The principal public buildings are: the p u y; c 

 castle, which is about 340 paces in length; the hospital; buildings 

 a charitable establishment for the reception of strangers, 

 composing a large quadrangle, lined with a colonnade, 

 and roofed in small domes covered with lead ; and the 

 mosque, the entrance of which is supported by four 

 large columns of red granite, the apartments are numer- 

 ous and magnificent, and the top is covered with a cu- 

 pola ornamented with two minarets. There is shewn 



