Syria from the saddle . nch my thirst,and offered me one. I puffed away at it, and gazedout at the dust-clouds, my tongue becoming moreparched each moment, until the next stop. As wedrew up, David appeared at the window, — a swarthyangel of rescue,—his hands full of cool, sweet man-darinos. I thought perhaps you might be thirsty, sir, hesaid; it is rather warm down here. I could have fallen on his neck for gratitude. Then and always, during our long acquaintance, heanticipated my every wish, and did all in his powerto lighten any inconvenience or fatigue. Late in theafternoon our road ran alon
Syria from the saddle . nch my thirst,and offered me one. I puffed away at it, and gazedout at the dust-clouds, my tongue becoming moreparched each moment, until the next stop. As wedrew up, David appeared at the window, — a swarthyangel of rescue,—his hands full of cool, sweet man-darinos. I thought perhaps you might be thirsty, sir, hesaid; it is rather warm down here. I could have fallen on his neck for gratitude. Then and always, during our long acquaintance, heanticipated my every wish, and did all in his powerto lighten any inconvenience or fatigue. Late in theafternoon our road ran along a narrow stream, per-haps sixty feet wide. -This was the Abana, the river ofDamascus, which the Syrian of old declared betterthan all the waters of Israel. We soon left the river and drove on until six we entered the city and were met by officialswho examined our tezJceres and counted our examination finished, we crossed to the Hotel Dim-itri, where I was to lodge during my stay in CHAPTER IV. DAMASCUS STREETS AND BAZAARS. HE next morning we set out tosee the city, first driving throughit, and afterward making a tourof the bazaars; my more unwel-come task — the visit to the LeperSettlement — being deferred untilafternoon. Damascus is built in the shapeof a spoon; the handle formedof densely packed streets andmosques, and the bowl openinginto the Medan (literally, largeplace ). In this Medan the annualcaravan of Mecca pilgrims also a lump of sugar is given with great ceremonyto the white camel which bears the Prophets insignia; The journey to Mecca forms one of the greatestannual events in Damascus. None but Mohammedansmay go on it; and none but Mohammedans may enterthe Sacred City of Mecca. One Christian, a Germanprofessor, succeeded some years ago, by means of hisknowledge of Arabic and of religious customs, in join-ing the pilgrims and making the entire journey unsus-pected. This was, of course, done at imminent risk of 4
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