DAMASCUS, THE PEARL OF THE DESERT 



63 



Aclaibazar";''. 



Brus 



Isbartafc 



forrieh. 



r A I N gv^ •',', , ,V,;' -'' 



fen 



iTebuk 



Ay 



lamascus 



HAURAN 



eraa SYRIAN 

 /BAmumn D E S E RT 



Mblsoi 



iaJtn el Ghrtd 

 pJeb Siierora 



\ElUla 



'"Medina 



'Mekka 



3v 



IOO o 



h h hi: 



100 



eoo 300 miles 

 — I I 



MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF DAMASCUS 



height of 4,880 feet above sea-level. Few 

 have any idea that hidden away among 

 the mountains are sights and scenes to 

 excite the admiration of even the most 

 disinterested ; but, in order to see them, 

 the comfort of the train has to be left 

 and a number of miles covered in the 

 saddle. 



The railroad, built by the French, at 

 times runs through some very fine sce- 

 nery, and the entire journey of 90 miles 



is a constant panorama of mountain, 

 forest, or plain. 



At different points scattered in the 

 mountains are to be found groups of 

 cedar trees which until recent years suf- 

 fered so severely at the hands of the 

 natives that they were fast disappearing ; 

 but lately the government has placed 

 guards at the various groups to prevent 

 any more devastation. The largest group 

 of these ancient and interesting trees is 



