D IORAMA, par*. DESCRIPTION OF THE TWO PICTURES, NOW EXHIBITING, VIZ., THE INTERIOR OF ST. MARK'S at VENICE, Painted by M. DIOSSE, (Pupil of M. DAGUERRE,) FROM SKETCHES MADE ON THE SPOT, EXPRESSLY FOR THE DIORAMA, By the Late M. RENOTJX; - —r - —r AND A VIEW OF TIVOLI, near R O RE E, Painted by M. BOUTON. BOTH PICTURES EXHIBIT VARIOUS EFFECTS OF LIGHT & SHADE. Admittance — Stalls, 2s.-Saloon, Is. [Children under Twelve Years of Age—admitted to the Stalls at Half-price .] OPEN FROM TEN TILL SIX. LONDON: PRINTED BY T. BRETTELL, RUPERT STREET, HAYMARKET. m l ST. MARK’S—VEN ICE. The Picture is seen under two aspects —Day and Night. There is no building in Western Christendom now existing of which the interior conveys an impression at all similar to that produced by St. Mark’s. As soon as you cross the threshold you feel admitted into the Byzantine empire. From the resplendent cupolas and apsides above, 11 ch and variegated pavement below, the whole is pervaded bythe same character of mystic solemnity dark and shadowy, but not gloomy, and full of complexity without confusion. The' gold-grounded * l ’“ d °” r “ d “ “» •». appearance ef being lined 14"- Atatimewhencontinentantaly wasin so distracted and deplorable a condition as scarcely to ave the spirit or the power to undertake any work of magnitude, Venice, apart from the scene of TU \Zt 72 ZTm ZZT' T” T "’ ■ ” md CUlM ” h ”°” «f a. Mark. in 976. »„ ,„d ,L 2T2 v" , ,7 “ " * popd " which should not be surpassed in splendour by anv t0 ereCt & ” eW Cathedra1 ’ St. Sophia, at Constantinople, as the most splendid Ch„“hT the' wlhl ^ ^T’ 7^ St. Mark’s from its ashes, and to take that Church for their model ' " t0 The plan of St. Mark’s, like that of St. Sophia is a ' - , , porticos. The centre of the building is covered with a dn " 7°^’ ^ ^ addlt ’° n of s P acious rises a smaller cupola. The remaining parts of the bi '1 r ^ ° Ver ^ ° f th ® a ’' mS ° f the ° r0SS which the Greeks had become expert and which a' ™ S 7 °° Vered with vailI,9) in constructing of the old Basilicas. ^ mU ° h to be P«*««d to the wooden roofs and support galleries above. The Zlfabof ® " aV f froln . the aisIes in each of the four compartments, which „ that ,i M decoration of the building, without and witbtr, „i „ . S ° Ualy ‘ It; 18 computed that, m the are all of marble, and were chiefly brought f ’ 7** ^ lllndred P lIlars af e employed. The pillars The pavement of the Church is of 7 7’ a “ d ° tW parts oftbe Levant. It took nearly a century to complete thTfabric. ° iTlC^T 8611 S Va ™ US patte ™ S - decorate the interior with marbles and mosaics T] U/1 ’ JJo S e Domenicho Silvio began to walls were entirely encrusted with marble and th 1686 W01 '^ S Were cont 'mied, at intervals, till the on a ground of gold. These were also chief! r 7. 7 ^ l00 ^ ani ^ domes covered with mosaics which separates the sanctuary from the bod of ^ CCUted Greek artists. The magnificent screen, with fourteen pillars, supporting as im m 7 7° cburcb > was added in 1394. It is ornamented i > t-t as manv statues of tlio i . The whole is of white marble, and wna 2 , , , twelve Apostles, the Virgin, and St. Mark. was executed by two brothers, named Zuccatti, natives of Venice. 3 The high altar has a case, called La Palla; it is divided into small compartments, on which are represented Scripture subjects, and passages from the life of St. Mark, in enamel. The divisions between the compartments are of gold, enriched with precious stones. The oldest part of it was made at Constantinople in 978, at the expense of the Doge Pietro Orseolo. Another part was added in 1102. It was repaired, enlarged, and enriched by Doge Ziani, 1209—and again enriched by Doge Andrea Dandolo, in 1345. In the Treasury of St. Mark’s are still preserved a number of beautiful vases and chalices, speci¬ mens of Byzantine workmanship of all ages. They were the plunder of the churches of Constantinople, and sent from thence to Venice, when that metropolis was taken by the Crusaders, in 1203. For a full and particular account of the Treasures of St. Mark, reference should be made to “ Evelyn.” TIVOLI. The piesent View is taken from the terrace of the Temple of Vesta (commonly called the Temple of t le Sibyl).. From this point the principal beauty of the place is seen, where the water of the Teverone (the ancient Amo), being confined between the hills as it approaches Tivoli, is driven with increased velocity ovei m ioc vs w nc i it there encounters, and falling from an immense height, forms the great Cascade, an is afterwards precipitated down a narrow channel, into the Abyss, called the Grotto of Neptune. On either side of the River, are seen the fragments of ancient Walls. On the left of the Spectator, are the ruins of the Palace of Mecaa.as.-the Walls,-and one of the modern Gates of the City. The Palace o ' ecaenas extended as far as the Gates of Tibur, and the public road passed through it. Below is a Subterranean Gallery, called the Stables, by some supposed to have been Baths, by others Reservoirs. eneath run the Cascatelli, or lesser cascades, formed by a branch of the Anio, divided from the main stream, for the use of the Inhabitants of the Town. Although objects of minor importance, the surrounding scenery with the accompanying rocks and verdure, render them scarcely inferior in point ManuTctories* 6 ^ ^ ^ stream — The Houses on the right of the Spectator are chiefly EPISODE HISTORIQUE. ' ‘ ..; ’ V “ E ) 1 ' e attendalt son fiance.la nuit etait obscure ...la faible lueur d’une „ * am P e eclail- a it 1 heureux asile des rendez-vous d’amour: un ciel sombre et orageux et le bruit du u ° ne " ™F lma, _ ent a la fols dans sa J eune ame craintive, un sentiment de tristesse que l’espoir de V ° n len . tot C ® U1 qU elle aimait ne P ouvai t maitriser en ce moment; un funeste pressentiment, avant- „ “ mble catastr6 P he > suspendant toutes ses facultes, livrait son fone it des angoisses „ P US . elr ‘ e f qUe Celles de la mol,t .lorsqu’une musique empreinte d’une douce melodie vint „ ,7 ” 1 91per S . 0S terreUI ' S . C ’ est H dit-elle. e t ses pleurs cesserent de couler; « ? P ? nC ant a musi T ue fut tout-a-coup interrompue, un bruit etrange lui succeda... .mais les epaisses enebres ne permirent pas d’en reconnaitre la cause.un instant apres un corps roulait dans le 4 “ g °" ffi ' e! . c ’ dtait celui de son amant > 1 ue ]a fureur jalouse d’un rival dedaigne remits precipiter, pour derober la trace de son forfait. ° ^ „ “ U " pr ° fond silenc , e vint terminer cet afW spectacle, invisible aux yeux, mais que IWinati™ to uj ours active & se creer des terreurs n’avait cette fois que trop bien analyse. „ L ° rSque Ie J0ur f&t revenu ’ tout avait disparu, hors une tache de sang que rappelait cette * •, d horreur et de regrets eternels pour la jeune fiancee.” ' nml TIVOLI. Quitting Rome by the Porta S. Lorenzo, at a distance of 18 miles stands this Tow the ancient Latium, now called Camna the road to it was lined, it was considered a subu^ to thaT^ " ^ ° f ^ * * Grotto of JVeptune. Many curious reminsTfanfi 6 7 ^ ^ ^ CaScades ’ and * which are the celebrated Villa of Hadrian and the'Saif “1“^° 77 “ ** nei & hbourhood > amongs the Artist j—to picturesque beauties of no' col 7 7f Tivoli “““ * gilding even the desolate Campagna with a borrowed//’ ^ / th ° Se ClaSSiC reCollections > whicl powerfully recalls whatever is most clew & ^ ° f ^ «"* a ** which so virtue, genius, and taste retired from the noisy and lire,/ 7 mteUectual greatness. Hither winch are to be found in a country life alone and which ^ ’ t0 “W those tranquil pleasures situation and peculiar beauties of the place ’ Here R T ei f ° 0nsiderabl y heightened by the natural exchanged the cares ofKmpire for the deli, h 7 0 fZ 77 ^ ^ SOeptre a nd the purple, and to become the guest of a Mecamas, and shared the f 7 ^ ^ ** Au ^ stus condescended celebrated ^ dte^UhtS' "f —~ favoured spot. Poets warbled their harmonious notes -_pS ’ lea ™ In ^ and refinement. On this P ation, and Patriots fanned into a flame the never-dying themsehes to confe “- N.B .—The Grand Machine, f) Road; and during the Nigh{ ™ constructed by Messrs. Gray and Davisow, of the Ne *"**>-• h t - «*- “ *• «*• in the view of Tivoli the n , 11 J J- tvolt, the Barcarole from Donizetti’i, opera I 23. The Village of Salahi . 24. The Castle and Palac 25. Village of Djobar. 26. Straight Street. __ 27. Great Khan. PRINTED BY T. BRETTELL, Square. „ fouNTRY> now exhibiting at the Panorama, Leicbster SURROUNDING LOUN _ _ ___—— ASCUS. ZAHLE. A Description of BEYROUT. mount hernon. TYRUS. BAY OF ACRE. JAFFA. JERUSALEM. DEAD MECCA. HAOURAN. OUUJU Bedouin Arabs. Jerusalem Merchants. Cemetery. Turkish Funeral. Piebel (or Mount! Heish. Gate called Bab Salem. Desert. Haouran. Plain ofEU-Ghoutter. Mew Suburbs. Tombs. Shiek. BAHR EL MERDJE. PALMYRA. TRIPOLI. ANTI-L1BANON. te' At, Officer of Mehemet All. Turkish Priest preaching Camels proceeding to join the Caravan. Minaret. Cain and Abel Mount. River Barrada. Bahr El Merdje. Coffee House and the Gardens. Church of St. John. Quarter of the Christians. Convent. The Eastern Gate. The Village of Salahie. The Castle and Palace. Village of Djobar. Straight Street. Great Khan. lAYMARKET• RUPERT BRETTELE) PRINTED description OF A VIEW OF THE CITY DAMASCUS, AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTRY. AT THE PANORAMA, LEICESTER SQUARE. ROBERT BURFORD. tLonOom PRINTED BY T. BRETTELL, RUPERT STREET, I1AYMARKET. 1841. IN THE UPPER CIRCLE, 0§ 1M®W ®!F>IM S A VIEW OF MACAO, DAMASCUS. “ Hail, rich Damascus, to thy fertile plains, O’er whose glad realm a milder Pacha reigns! Where the broad waste’s expanded surface yields, To fruitful gardens and productive fields.”- Bvron. El Scham, or Damascus, the capital of a very extensive and im¬ portant pachalic, is one of the most ancient and interesting, as well as one of the finest, of the cities of Syria. Few parts of the world are deserving more general and impressive attention. It stands conspicuous in Holy Writ, from the earliest periods, and is distinguished as the theatre of many extraordinary events, and divine dispensations. It has been consecrated by the presence of prophets and apostles, and is rendered for ever re¬ nowned, by the miraculous conversion of one of the most violent of the persecutors of Christ and his Church, into one of the most zealous advocates of the Christian faith. Damascus has, in all ages, been celebrated for the beauty of its situation; Jeremiah calls it “ the city of praise, the city of my joy,” (chap, xlix., ver. 25). The expressive and hyperbolical language of the East describes it as a “ mole of beauty on the face of nature;” “a pearl set round with emeralds.’ Its appearance, indeed, is almost unrivalled in Asia; standing two thousand feet above the level of the sea, on an immense plain, which is nearly surrounded by mountains, of various heights and picturesque character, it rears its innumerable domes, cupolas, and lofty minarets, from the midst of highly-cultivated gardens, orchards, or rather forests of fruit trees, and thick woods, clothed with the most luxuriant foliage, of various hues, kept in perpetual freshness by the waters of the Barrada, the ancient. Abana and Parpliar, which intersect them in every direction ; presenting a most fertile and delightful scene, which, if not quite realising the exaggerated epithet of “ Ede, or terrestrial Paradise,” at least is well deserving the more common Mahommedan title of “ El Scham Schereef, the noble and beautiful.” The Panorama is taken from the southern suburb without the walls, and near a very extensive cemetery; one of the most favourable spots that could be selected, as it commands the city in its whole extent, presenting a proud display of stately mosques, groupes of massive domes, graceful cupolas, and light and tapering minarets, most of which being of stone, hght yellow bricks, or painted with gay colours, have a peculiar character of lightness and elegance ; the rich masses of sombre foliage which occa¬ sionally intermix and finely contrast with them, throwing a delicious depth of shade over the whole. On every side the city appears encompassed for nnles, by waving groves of peculiar density and luxuriance, forming a richly varied belt of delicious freshness, rarely to be met with in the East to the same extent. On the north-west of the city stands the town of Salahie, conspicuously situated at the base of a high mountain, a portion of the Anti-Libanus, which noble chain stretches towards the west, at first gently swelling from the vale, then more boldly rising, until, their summits are bleached with snow; a rugged, cheerless, and desolate line of rocks, extending far beyond the reach of vision, and blending with the 4 azure of the boundless horizon. On the south-east the new m bounded W he distant mountains of the Haouran, and to the east and south are vast sandy deserts, dreary, solitary, and barren offering a fine contrast to the smiling verdure of the well irrigated suburbs The whole being Sited by a brilliant sun, and cloudless sky, presents a scene of beauty and grandeur, that seems to realize every preconceived notion of Oriental splendour, and to embody the admirable pictures, and charming descrip¬ tions, in the Arabian INights. . . . , ,, Damascus is probably one of the oldest cities m the world : there is no modem city even on whose site it can be satisfactorily proved one so ancient formerly stood; nor one that has preserved its original name for so many centuries. Although, during this long period, it has never attained the celebrity of many of its contemporaries, yet it has never fallen so low as others, but has always, after having been captured and desolated, again risen to splendour and dignity, and has maintained a flourishing existence in all ages. It would be idle to speculate on the traditions which assert, and are generally believed, that the city stands on the site of the Garden of Eden, but there is no reason to doubt that it was coeval with the earliest cities that were erected after the flood. Josephus (book i., chap, vi.) ascribes its origin to Uz, the great grandson of Noah, his father Aram, the son of Shem, having possessed himself of Syria. Damascus is first mentioned in Holy 5 Writ °as a strong and important place in the time of Abraham, Genesis (chap, xiv., ver. 15), which must have been about three thousand years before the Christian era. It was to “ Hobah, over against Damascus,” that Abraham pursued the monarelis that had taken his brother Lot into captivity, whom he rescued; and, according to Jo¬ sephus (book i., chap, vii.), reigned in Damascus several years. The city is also named (Genesis, chap, xv., ver. 2) as the birth-place of Eliezer, the “ steward of Abraham’s house,” before the covenant by which God is represented to have given him the whole of this country, “ from the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates.” (Genesis, chap, xv., ver. 18.) Josephus says, the same Dimschak Eliezer enlarged and beautified the city. King David took Damascus from Hadadezer (2 Samuel, chap, viii., ver. 5 and 6), and it shortly after became the capital of an independent kingdom under Rezou (1 Kings, chap, xi., ver. 24 and 25), called Syria (“ for the head of Syria is DamascusIsaiah, chap, vii., ver. 8), which was engaged in wars against the Jews all the days of Solomon. Damascus remained the capital of Syria and Phoenicia, having been many times, according to Scripture, taken and retaken during the bloody wars with the Kings of Israel, until the time when Seleucas Nicanor, having erected Antioch, made it the capital of his dominions, about 300 years before Christ: it was subsequently possessed by the Assyrians, Persians, and Macedonians; and about 65, b. c. was taken by Pompey, in his wars against Tigranes. The Romans valued and held the city for a long period, and during the time of the Greek Emperors of Constantinople, it became the most celebrated city of the East, remarkable alike for its wealth, luxury, and magnificence. In the 12th year of the Hegira (633) the city was taken by the fol¬ lowers of the prophet, under Abubekr, the first caliph and successor of Mahomet, who, dying the same day, was succeeded by Omah. During 5 the Ommade dynasty it was for more than a century the capital of the Saracen Empire, one of the most brilliant periods of its history I n 1148 t successfully repulsed the Crusaders, led by the King of Jerusalem --In by Timour S tl e ^ f “ A acens . b ^ Tamerlane ;-in 1400 was ravaged y limour the Tartar, and after various vicissitudes, it finally came into the possession of the Turks, in 1517, and has been held by these raTacious Ah ft w°f f l “ th<3 l at f War between the Por te and Mehemet Ah it was taken by the troops of the latter, in July 1832, and was for¬ mally ceded to the Pacha by the peace of 1833. What effect the present distracted state of Syria, and the conflicting interests of Mehemet and the Sultan, will have on the domestic peace of tins ancient city, and the safety of the lives and property of the Resident Christians, cannot be foreseen; it is, however, devoutly to be hoped that the mo 8 e tn may - °T r ’ a Clty rf associated b 7 its history with some of Scid™ will 1 ment eVen . tS ° f Cbrist ianity, the scene of so" many striking ranee and ^ gam be aIIowed to la pse into the state of utter igno- i, a 10 intolerance, that has heretofore distinguished it arisirm 1 froT n haS recen % b f ome invested with a new and painful interest, held domininr • mi !r t that unfort unate race of Israel whose forefathers “ ln tbe city having been exposed to the most merciless C by a cZT a - f0Ul and maliui0US accusation > brought against for the mlo r ,0fh r ng barbar0l,sl L murdered one Fathe'r Thomas, passove? 1T wli° f H® bl °° d aS a sacrifice > at the festival of the arrested T f ° rm ° f a triaI ’ numbers of the Jews were revolting birlJrT™ , pnson ’ their property confiscated, and the most the present d^ w 6S t ? r * ures > repugnant to the feelings and habits of crimes of wide! Ilf 6 reS0rted to > for the purpose of extorting confessions of 2 I?" the J e guiltless. Those who were so fortunate as to through the bm ’ ffer< f a lon g and cruel imprisonment, until at last, they have bwl 6 and P raisewor thy exertions of Sir Moses Montefiore, any trial ’onL nn C01aiInand of the Pacha, been liberated; but alas, without and therebv ,. r „ n and having nine gates of entrance. Like most appearance • tl 16 lldenor does n °t realise the promise of the external street of a , re , not an T squares, or open spaces, and but one verses the whofe hngth - fh^ "if 1 '" 1 “ Strai g b *” in Scri P ture > which tra- arity to be f , gtft ’ the others are generally very narrow, a peculi- desirable • 1 1 ln . a hot countries where shade and coolness are paved • no a S y J ei y irregular, as in all Turkish towns. But few are dusk thev 116 f ded ’ and hi the rainy season all are very dirty. At insurrem' ^ Cl ° Sed at each extremity by wooden barriers, to prevent the puhp 01 ^^.. movemf,n t s - Architectural embellishment is confined to soinlid f, , )U1 dlll o® 1 the general appearance, in most quarters, is that of i and dilapidations, long lines of dead walls, with here and , „„ „ Wricadoed window ; which, joined to the absence there a small door, or a * horses , mu les, and asses, being the only gi ™ a dun and monotonous character to tw0 hundred in number; some, The Mosques are said to^be mor ^ ^ ^ * formerly Christia c ^ mmunit ies, three convents of monks, and four churc es khans, or caravansaries, are large substantial csSMS^dt.W* ,7 h ° .f rj?‘h buildi g , bazaars are numerous, well built, lighted, and vanous caravai . T1 fined to its particular bazaar, or street. g e r aIly ; r r ded by Mle s TnTplendid costumes, forming an interesting and animated scene. The be f houses are two or three stories m height, partly built of stone the remainder of frames of wood, filled up with sun-dried bricks, covered wTtl Tister and with flat roofs. They usually surround a square court Tr garden, paved with marble and refreshed by fountains, into which all ^windows and arcades open. The Harem is most removed from the entrance, and frequently opens into a second garden ; towards the street they pre ent a blank wall, with a very small door of entrance, and perhaps a small window, secured by heavy carved lattice work, projecting from above -—a style of building and material common to the East, presenting such originality of character, that it doubtless has continued from the remotest ages to the present time, without alteration or attempt at im¬ provement The greatest magnificence, and the most splendid and costly style of decoration, is found in the Palaces of the great, and the habitations of the rich but is not to be met with beyond their precincts; the houses of the poorer inhabitants are indeed wretched holes, built with sun-dried bricks and roofed with branches of trees and mud, of course they last but a short time; in summer they crack and crumble with the heat of the sun in winter they are washed down by the rains. The best coffee houses, the'usual, if not the only places of social rendezvous in an Oriental city, are situated in the suburbs on the banks of the streams, thus possessing the two greatest luxuries of a hot climate, shade, and water; they are numerous, and are built in the Kiosk fashion, gaily painted, and elegantly furnished. The resident population of Damascus is estimated by the best informed authorities, at from 180,000 to 200,000 souls ; of these about 25,000 are Christians; Armenians, Greeks, and a few Catholic monks, nearly 15,000 Jews, and the remainder Mahomedans; Syrians, Turks, and Arabs. The usual dress is a mixture of the Arabian and Turkish costume, composed of the most costly textures, much embroidered, fine shawls, furs, and rich silks. The arab cloak with broad stripes of black and white is very common. The Kaouk is worn by the Turks; and a striped green and yellow shawl of muslin round the head, with an enormous red cap by the Arabs. Christians and Jews wear garments of a dark colour, Mahomedans alone being allowed to dress in red, yellow, azure, or white. The female costume is of the most splendid description, with large trowsers. When visiting the bazaars, baths, or cemeteries, which they frequently do, being allowed a much greater degree of liberty than in most parts of Asia, they cover the face with a coloured transparent veil, and envelope the whole 7 body, from head to foot, in a large white cotton scarf. The dress, general manners, and customs of society, idioms of thought, aud salutations of courtesy, present living memorials of long past ages, being but little altered, at the present day, from what they appear, by history, to have been in the’ remotest periods. The native Maliomedans have the character of being the most bigoted and fanatical in all Asia. Since the city has been under the dominion of the Pacha of Egypt, strict order and rational tolerance has been enforced towards strangers; they still, however, abhor every thing European, persons, religion, and even dress. Previous to that time, Christians were not suffered to enter the suburbs on horseback, the ass was the only animal they dared ride, and even from these they were compelled to alight on entering the gates, where they were subjected to the greatest extortion. Even now, a stranger in the Frank costume is a subject for ridicule, often for insult. Under such circumstances of dislike and jealousy, it may be easily imagined that extreme difficulties had to be overcome, and the greatest dangers encountered by the artist, before he was so successful in taking the drawings for the present Panorama. jl 8 explanation. No. 9.— Cemetery. On the outside of almost every gate is a cemetery, and as the Mahomedans never deposit a second body in the same grave, they are usually of great extent. As they are not private property, the friends of the deceased select any spot that suits their inclinations, without fear of being disturbed; they are not enclosed by walls, neither are they watched, there are no medical students to deprive the grave of its dues; they are generally very clean, and the cypress trees by which they are adorned attain an unusual size. The graves are formed with great care and finished with extraordinary neatness, some are large, and are ornamented with painting and gilding, others resemble small pavilions. The upright stone bears an inscription with the name of the deceased and some passages from the Koran, and at the foot of the grave there is always enclosed a small earthen vessel, in which sprigs of myrtle and other flowering shrubs are placed and, occasionally, cages of singing birds (fed morning and evening) are hung on the tomb, as marks of sorrow and respect for the departed. Females may at all times be seen among the tombs, but on the Turkish sabbath they assemble by hundreds, loudly lamenting, and evincing by other demonstrations of grief, the universal respect paid to the dead, believing that their spirits, which hover round the spot, regard with satisfaction these tokens of regard. No. 22.— Walls. Damascus was one of the strong walled cities of the patriarchal age, “ I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad.” (Jeremiah chap. xlix.,ver.27.) According to ancient accounts, the city was formerly surrounded by three walls; and as history makes no mention of their being at any time totally razed it is very probable, that as the buildings increased, the inner ones were removed and built upon, and the present, evidently the outer one, left for defence. There is no doubt that the present wall is of great antiquity, the foundations and lowest portions visible, presenting a masonry evidently of an earlier date than the times of the Romans and Saracens ; the blocks of stone being square or oblong, of vast size, closely united without cement; many bearing Arabic inscriptions. Above these large masses a considerable part is executed in the rustic masonry of the Romans, which appears to have been again repaired and heightened, by modern stone and brick-work of the Mahomedans. In all parts it is in a ruinous and insecure state, and would offer but little impediment to an invading army. XNO. Ss*.. —caswe, ana ralace. , J, h ® £ astle ° r citadel appears to be a work of great antiquity, and was probably erected it hL me en,per ° rs > be . fore the capture of the city by the Saracens, since which many alterat t° ns and additions, in various styles of architecture. It is WD wall f t r n ? US S re6tS ° f - 10USeS surr °unded by a broad ditch of masonry, with a diamon^wl’v? tn t0neS con ! posin £ wblch have a singular appearance, from being placed wXe^ Lw e a are fr 0SeVeral - ‘° WerS and bastions. In the present system of turbulent and factions f ■ ^ enc ® against a foreign enemy, but it serves to restrain the state it nresento n pm S ^habitants. I n its present ruinous and neglected is insisnificant cmS ‘• emnar i ts ? f ‘ t . s former splendour and importance. The araoury or E caravarr S prU1Clpall y the arms > accoutrements, &c„ used by the Hadj numerous a^mrtnie'nts 1 bofh l° f buildings, within the walls of the castle, containing marble dldinT enamel T andsma11 ’ some which are profusely decorated with harem CL nX ’ T" c * particularl y the portion appropriated to the newTuppli S and the arLT dei f ° yed ^ fire in September 1831. The raising w supplies, and the arrival of a British consul, were the causes, that, on this occasion. 9 led to one of the tumults so common in the Fact tvio .. , , . citadel for several days, and being at last obliged to capitulate ^ murdered, together with several of his suite. The palace was sacked and fi edTn severa! & g S a S de^;°ed d,ty al ° ne il > the *«- W «jSS No. 29.-— Bazaar. A very handsome building recently erected to replace that destroyed bv fire in 1831 r 1 purpose * « either side smali lecesses or shops, in which the articles for sale are invitingly displayed in front are small platforms or divans, for the merchant and his customers to IT on When a pure laser appears, he is offered a pipe and coffee, during which there is a mutual exchange of high sounding compliments; these preliminaries over business then commences The shopkeepers are generally well dressed and very civil to strangers and the spirit of traffic seems to exist in great activity; the crowds that always fill the bazaars on business or p^asure, form a singular contrast to the solitude Sr partsTthe city. The business of the day usually closes about three o’clock, the shops are then closed, and the dealers retire home,- the bazaar is closed by iron gates P and a few watchmen alone remain, to prevent robberies, and to give alan/in case of fire . No. 27— Great Khan. This noble building, erected by Hassad Pacha, and considered the Exchana-e of Da r=; “ » r of whfte marble The bmldmgs, being formed of alternate layers of black and mens, in Ill its detaifs of 2' T™ tbe f eat bazaar is one ‘he richest speci- Oate loTrfo V, “ ’ f the More sque, and the most striking in effect known. This mid bdng surromidedVnTr’ paVed W j th “ arble > bavin S a ^ge fountain in the centre, with curved Zou dht 1 P ba ^ oand fl oo r by a noble arcade of pointed arches, enriched wilt, " mouldings, leading to chambers and magazines ; above which is a gallery anlboldTy^^i™te°d dr' 41 " 6 "* 8 - r drM « Ie “ covered by In IS of light hlell managed ’ SUrr ° Unded b y several sraa11 oupolas, and the distribution for^ffmmsIlvesTIto IZl the ^ endezvo , us of pilgrims from the north of Asia, who forty thousand nerson* ra ^, ans to tra y el to Mecca ; they amount, at times, to thirty or is e P r . Sons ’. and as ®ost of them bring merchandise to sell or exchange it Kluip 6 stables C The richest of the merchants usually lodge in thX£ T , ’ ■ . ° Provided elsewhere for their camels and horses. zaars for merchandis^Tl?" 8 ^ appearance > , and sur P ass in abundance, the ba- and vegetables large and fi* 6 Mt i C If ar< ; excellent in quality ; the meat good, the fruit eating andTofek^ ’ 16 bl i ead white ’ and tbe hone y and miIk delicious. The with gilding and ArabesquTpaimilg^ SCa ' e ’ *** the barberS ’ Sh ° pS sur P assin « I y S a y No. 28. —Grand Mosque. Tolm ofdimensions and imposing effect, formerly the church of St. and nietvnf tb > umversally allowed to be the finest and largest temple that the zeal haveTeen 0 1,‘J \ “ected in this country. It is generally supposed to clnrius • hut th a t if tbe , Em P ei 'or Herachus, who is said to have dedicated it to Za- hononr f n r il,„ p d urk s, who esteem it one of the four wonders of the world, claim that of the Hpd-iV, ,' n P er "r Welefl, by whom they say it was built in the eiglity-sixth year .; nn ° '■ Ir is, however, more probable that he compelled the Cliris- t i. , tbl 8 n 1 > mrd then added the great dome, which was certainly his work. One 1 Cn , ar ? Sa . 1 d t0 have been employed, and seven years’ receipts of the Cali- \ ts i erect ion. The Church is approached by a large quadrangular P ' e '' ] 1 marble, and surrounded by a double cloister of arched galleries, resting . q uare pillars of Syrian granite of the Corinthian order. In the centre is a large u nit ana fountain, surrounded by trees. Over the gate of entrance, called Bab Giren, neaa ot St. John is said to have been placed on a pole. The front of the church is o great extent; it presents above, rows of Saracenic windows and small pillars, the c ois ers of the court forming the portico below. The gates are of brass. The interior 10 : pn - t an d west, divided by forty-four Corinthian columns, sun- has three naves running eas , . four immense pillars in the centre sustaining the dome, porting slightly pointed arc of the roo f being of wood covered with lead, and which is of stone, the an ^ f m ; n arets. The interior, from its vast size, i 3 having, at each end, ng . g ^ naves being at right angles with the entrance, imposing, but the effect! 1 & re space is enc l ose d by blinds, open only during In the centre of the la ^ tribunes for the readers, furnished with large Korans, the hours of prayer, m ingers . The floor of all this portion, which is appro- and having a choir aboveg ^ the richest carpet . To the right, in^the pnated to the Ha for the Imaun of the Schaffi sect. In the centre of the same nave, is the i h ildj an d arabesque pa i nt ing, contains the tomb of St. church, a temp > g wb ^ se bo dy, it is said, is buried here, and his head preserved fna™Wen 0 dish The Mosque is altogether 650 feet in length by 150 feet in breadth. T ike the Temple of Jerusalem of old.it is generally crowded with loungers, smoking, playing chess, and discussing news, and traders from the neighbouring bazaar buying, selling, or driving bargains. 4 nt.i- TAhanus. A noble chain of mountains running in a direction north and south of the Mediter¬ ranean shore ■ they commence near Sidon and terminate in Arabia the most lofty por¬ tion being between Damascus and Balbec. With the Libanus or Lebanon, the highest point of which may, in some places, be seen, they form the extensive valley called “ Ccelo Syria,” or the Hollow Syria (Amos, chap. i., ver. 5); they are about forty miles from the se . ^ — Djebail Sheikh. Part of the chain of Anti-Libanus, and one of the highest mountains in Syria; the top and sides are always covered with snow, it being calculated to be nearly fifteen thousand feet above the sea. It supplies Damascus with snow and ice during the summer. _ _ _ . 7 No. 18.— Tomb of a Sheik. A small cupola on columns called Kubt-el-Nasr, the tomb of a Sheik or Santon. It is on the mountain of Sala, in the road from Beyrout to Damascus; here the traveller first catches sight of the city, and cannot fail of being delighted with its splendid and beautiful appearance. It is probable that it was from part of this mountain, called Sayeda Naya, that Mahomet is said first to have seen Damascus, with which he was so delighted, that, fearing the temptation to be too strong for one who sought only a heavenly paradise, to get away as quickly as possible, he made but one step thence to Medina. Some little distance on the road the spot is shown where Cain is said to have murdered his brother, also the tomb of Abel. No. 21 .—Mosque of Dervishes. The mosque is a large plain building, having a dome covered with lead, and the two tallest minarets in the city. A number of dervishes reside here, who on Fridays per¬ form their fantastic religious ceremonies, turning and twisting themselves in a singular manner into a state of temporary madness. A manufactory of silk, carried on in the building, employs their time to better purpose the other days of the week. No. 23.— Salahie. A beautiful little town, about two miles from the city, pleasantly situated at the foot of the mountain, and watered by a branch of the Barrada. It consists principally of one long street, through which the broad and well-paved road towards Beyrout passes at right angles; the large population consists principally of the richest people of Damascus, who here possess country residences. In summer it is much resorted to as a place of amusement, especially on the last day of the week. In the adjacent plain, called El Bobby, near the gorge of the mountain whence the river Barrada issues, and where it first divides, is a romantically beautiful and much admired spot, celebrated by poets, and frequented by all classes, called “ the separation of the waters.” Taking advantage of the supposed agreement of this spot, with the description given by Moses, “ and the Lord planted a garden eastward in Eden,” “ and a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from thence it was parted and became into four heads,” &c. (Genesis, chap, ii., ver. 8). Tradition has asserted, and the people 11 of Damascus imphculy believe, that the plain was the site of paradise, and, in accordance with that belief show the earth as that from which Adam was formed. Part of the plain is the Merdj or exercising ground of the military. Green Minaret. A tall and elegant minaret, entirely covered with enamelled tiles of a bright green colour, which in the sunshine have a most splendid appearance, forming one of the most conspicuous and ornamental objects in the city. The mosque to wlficli it belongs is neither large nor in any way remarkable. Bells not being used by the Mahomedans, f pr ?, yer the muzzeins ascend the minarets, and proclaim in loud voices to the faithful the ca1 to prayer of “ There is but one God, and Mahomet is his prophet, come to prayer. In the dead stillness of the night there is something peculiarly solemn and beautiful in the clear and sonorous voices chanting the call, to which is then added, rrayer is better than sleep ; waste not the precious time in idleness, but come to God ” or some appropriate passage from the Koran. No. 2 .—Mountains of Haouran. The Haouran is a district of vast extent, so extremely fertile that it is called the granary of Damascus; it comprehends many towns of large size, and numerous villages, and is bounded by a long range of mountains, some of very considerable height. It is mentioned in Scripture by its present name (Ezekiel, chap, xlvii., ver. 16-18). The route of the Hadj or caravan to Mecca lies through the Haouran. No. 34.— Barrada. According to Scripture, Damascus was watered by two rivers, or probably two branches of the same stream. Naaman, captain of the hosts of the king of Syria, asks the Prophet Elijah, “ Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel ? ” (2 Kings, chap, v., ver. 12.) These names have long been obsolete, but no doubt exists that they were two branches of the Barrada, the Chrysorrlicea or golden stream of ancient geographers. This fine river, one of the greatest of luxuries to the people of Damascus, rises in the Anti-Libanus; shortly after it issues from a gorge in the mountains, it divides into seven streams, the main one running directly to th Clt ?’ aild su PP 1 y i “g th . e fountains, baths, &c.; the others, branching right and left through the suburbs, are distributed into numerous small channels for irrigating the gar¬ dens, the cause_ of the extraordinary fertility of the environs. South of the city, the waters again unite into one stream, which, after flowing a few miles, is finally lost in a dutt stagnant lake or marsh, called Behr-ool-murj, the lake of the meadows, where, there being no outlet, it is presumed they are evaporated. The names of the seven streams are thus given by Ali Bey: Djazzie runs to Salahie; Tora between Salahie and Damascus; Banias, to the new suburb; Banada washes the north wall of the city, and is used by the dyers j Canavat, the most considerable, supplies the city; Akrabani, the Meidan on the south; and Darari, which runs a little more southward. No. 26.— Street, called Straight. The principal street traversing the city from the palace to the gate at the opposite extremity, it is now named the Sultan’s Street, but is better known as, and more usually called, by its scriptural name of Straight. It cannot for a moment be supposed that many of the houses are now in existence that stood in it eighteen centuries back; yet, jrom the fact of the Turks being so little given to change, it is not improbable that they have been re-erected on the precise sites, and in the same form, so that the street, at me present time, presents nearly the same appearance that it did in the time of St. "aul; little, however, but the mere outline of its course can be traced from the present position. Near the eastern gate stands the house of Judas, to which St. Paul was eon- vpyed after his miraculous vision in the plain near Damascus (Acts ix.) ; here he was visited by Ananius, the disciple of Christ, who, directed by divine inspiration, laid his hands upon, and baptised him, and restored his sight. A small cell is shown, in which it is said the Apostle passed the three days of his blindness without food, and had the admirable vision in which he was rapt into the third heaven (2 Corinthians, chap. xii. ver. 1). The house contains a Christian altar and a Turkish praying place ; the Mahome¬ dans visit it every day; the Christians perform mass at stated intervals. At a short distance stands the house of Ananius, consisting of two subterranean apartments, beneath which it is said lie is buried ; it now belongs to the Franciscan Convent ; close by, is a fountain from which it is said the water was obtained for baptizing the Apostle. 12 No. go. —Christian Quarter. ■ tiio rpsidence of the Christians is, by no means, tlw T * 16 nart^of 1 the city. It contains the churches of the various denominations, most pleasant part ot y monks The largest, which is the usual residence of zifdW if - «>» '“f comforfabiriod'o-ed The Cajuchin convent is a good house, but being destitute of fund^sMs nearly uninhabited. The Lazarists have a good house and handsome church, erected bv the Abbe Poussons, the building of which, under so fanatic and extortionate a government, was attended with great difficulty and cost.-Immediately adjoining j, the quarter appropriated to the Jews. No. 36.— Gardens. Small gardens and orchards surround the city in every direction; they are divided from the roads and each other by low walls of sun-dried bricks, and are intersected in every part with channels of running water. The fruit trees are of the most prodigal growth: peaches and nectarines hang in clusters from trees of timber; plums, from the stock from which come our damascenes, are double the size ot those in England, and the grapes are worthy of Mahomet, by whom it is said they were planted. The Prophet, once playing chess and eating grapes with the. Almighty in heaven, spit out the stones, which, falling near Damascus, produced the vines for which it is so famous. Melons, cucumbers, and vegetables also attain an enormous size, and are fine in flavour. The flowers are abundant, and of the richest odour, particularly the damask roses, natives of the soil. Silk Dyers. Damascus was formerly very celebrated for the manufacture of silks and linen, to which it gave the name of damask ; there is still a considerable quantity made in the city, to which the numerous dyers give tints of peculiar brilliancy. No. 36 .—Coffee Houses. The coffee and sherbet houses, which are numerous and much frequented, are usually situated in the suburbs; they are cool, pleasant buildings, well shaded from the sun by fruit trees, and surrounded by gardens, ornamented with waterfalls, fountains, &c., on which much taste and labour is bestowed. Zekia. A large handsome mosque, attached to which is a hospital for lepers. Damascus is one of the three stations assigned by law to lepers, to one of which, all who are afflicted with the dreadful malady are obliged to resort, but are not permitted to enter the city. This most horrible disease appears to be common in Syria at present, as it was in the time of Naaman (2 Kings, chap, v., ver. 27). No. 32 .—East Gate. Near the East Gate is a window, or rather loop-hole, whence the Christians, on being apprised that the Jews designed to kill St. Paul, and were besetting the gates night and day, let him down in a basket (Acts, chap, ix., ver. 25). The cavern where he was afterwards secreted, is shown near the adjacent Christian cemetery; also the tomb of St. George, the jailor of the apostle. At a short distance from the gate is the plain where St. Paul, whom over-zeal for the laws of Moses made a fierce persecutor of the infant church, was suddenly surrounded by a radiant light of glory, and was struck blind by the powerful arm of omnipotence, and from that time became one of the most laborious and successful of the preachers of Christ. No. 14 .—Bab Allah. The gate of God, being that through which the Hadj or holy prilgrimage to Mecca passes: after crossing the Meidhan there is a small village, once visited by the prophet, called El-Kadem, where the caravan rests the first night; it contains a mosque, and a kiosk, called Kubbet-el-Hadj, where the pacha, who heads the procession, passes the night. The caravan proceeds in large companies, each having its separate officer, together, at times, numbering twenty or thirty thousand camels. In the cavalcade the standard of the prophet, of green silk, is displayed, the camel bearing it being ever after exempt from work; the Koran also, splendidly bound, is carried, surrounded by a numerous and well-armed force. The journey occupies thirty-eight days. PRINTED BY T. BRF.TTELL, RUPERT STREET, HAYMARKET, LONDON.