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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



INTERIOR OF THE GREAT MOSQUE I DAMASCUS 



The great place of worship for the Damascenes. Mohammedans from all parts of the 

 Moslem world meet there. On Friday, when crowded with worshipers, the place is all too 

 small. At any hour from sunrise until after sunset people may be seen going through their 

 forms of prayer and worship. None are allowed in with their boots or shoes on. Note the 

 rugs. 



of the great fire. The workmanship of 

 these doors is very fine, the detail show- 

 ing that at some time there were those 

 who were able to turn out work in bronze 

 that will compete with anything of mod- 

 ern times. Because of the crowds that 

 throng these entrances and the dark loca- 



tion they are in, it is difficult to secure 

 anything like a good photograph of the 

 gates, but the illustration will convey a 

 fair idea of them. 



We will enter by one of the doors on 

 the north, and thus avoid giving ofifense 

 by turning our backs on Mecca. The 



