DAMASCUS, THE PEARL OF THE DESERT 



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ROOF OF ^STRAIGHT" STREET IN DAMASCUS 



This view, taken from a minaret, makes it appear as though a huge pipe ran across the city 

 between the houses, whereas it is only the arched roof of the longest street in Damascus 



river's side, whither the Damascenes re- 

 sort after the work and business of the 

 day to pass an hour over the coffee cup 

 or the ever-acceptable 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 Damascus curtains are 

 made, and there in semi-darkness 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 Dam- 

 ascene's reply would be that it is effective 

 and inexpensive ; and, where time is of 

 little object, these are important items. 



But the sights of Damascus are not all 

 on the streets. For a good view of the 



