I 
305 
of the mosque, which are destined to hold small lamps 
during the illumination nights. 
The other mosques are not worth describing. 
Damascus, like other Mussulman towns, has no 
square or public place. 
The custom of leaving open spaces in the middle of 
cities to air and embellish them, is entirely unknown to 
Mussulmen; the more urgent necessity of guarding 
against the rays of a continually burning sun has occa- 
sioned them to restrict the width of their streets that 
they may the more easily shade them with foliage. 
There are however some tolerably wide streets at Da- 
mascus, principally in the quarter where the seraya or 
the palace of the pacha is situated. This building is so 
completely surrounded with houses, that the large gate 
of entrance is alone to be seen. 
The kalaa or castle faces the pacha's palace; it may 
serve to keep the people in awe, but would be useless 
as a defence against a foreign enemy, because it is situ- 
ated in the middle of the city, and has only one range 
of walls, a little higher than the houses that surround it 
on all sides. 
The provisions, as well as merchandize, are sold in 
the shops placed on both sides of the streets. These 
markets, which are called bazars or zo/cs, are very 
abundantly furnished; some warehouses present large 
assortments of the different articles of commerce. What 
a contrast with the poverty and insignificance of the 
shops of Cairo, Fez, and other places, where the mer- 
chant appears to sell with regret the effects which he 
wishes to get rid of. 
The shops at Damascus are as it were encumbered 
with merchandize, particularly the silk warehouses, 
which are very numerous, and contain immense stores. 
Vol. II. 2 Q 
