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ORIGIN OF DAMASCUS.

CHAPTER VIII.

Origin of Damascus Supposed to be the Site of Eden- The Word Paradise The Name Damascus-Sham-Ancient History of Damas cus Gallantry of the Saracens-Saladin-Tamerlane--Mehemet Ali and the Damascenes-Hospitality of the Damascenes--Impressive Legend Legend of the Four Young Men-Anecdotes of Ibrahim Pasha---His Treatment of the Arabs -Songs in praise and in ridicule of Ibrahim-Hospital-Antiquities of Damascus-The so-called House of Ananias-Window whence St. Paul escapedSite of St. Stephen's Martyrdom --Houses of Damascus The Caab --Purchase Horses-Animals for Sale-The Auctioneer-Fanaticism of the Turks at Damascus -Ancient Families there-Gardens-Prepare to bid adieu to Damascus.

DAMASCUS, that ancient city, which was, and is, and will be always great, has its origin variously accounted for. Spite of the sacks and sieges it has endured-spite of revolutions and oppressions, its commanding situation has perpetuated its splendour, and its numberless advantages of position, for trade, for climate, and for beauty, will probably keep it great till men shall cease to be. The inhabitants, with pretty fondness, claim Eden for its site, and say that here was that earthly Paradise God first gave to man; they show the spot below the town, amidst the gardens called El Roobbie, where the Fede and Barrada

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divide into four streams; these, they say, are the four streams of the Holy Eden, the Pison, Gihon, Hiddekel, and Euphrates. They further strengthen their proof by showing the spot where Cain slew Abel. Probably, if one went first to the latter, they would prove its authenticity by the site of the former. It may be Eden, for Eves still tempt, and if report or tale tells true, still many Adams fall, weak as their first father, whose failing, alas, seems such an hereditary one, that they now as then,

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Consign their souls to man's eternal foe,

And seal their own to spare some wanton's woe."

Shakspeare casts in the weight of his word in favour of the spot, where he makes the Bishop of Winchester defy the Duke of Gloster, saying—

"Nay, stand thou back! I will not budge a foot:

This be Damascus; be thou cursed Cain,

To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt.

Henry Sixth, Act I., Scene 3.

The word Paradise is originally Greek, derived from the word Пapadeiros, an orchard. Eden is supposed to be from the Hebrew, meaning pleasure or delight. The Arabs use the word Jinni usually, but also know Phardose, which they probably obtained from the Greek. The Mahometans do not believe in this as the site of Eden: they place it

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EARLY HISTORY OF DAMASCUS.

altogether in another sphere, and load the deceived father of our race with the further punishment of a separation of 2000 years from his serpent-tempted spouse. The name Damascus was by many supposed to be derived from the Hebrew Damasck or Demesk. The Arabs again assert it is from Demis el Sham (Sham the Beautiful). Sham means a mole, and this is given, the natives say, as the best description of the place. Volney ascribes its origin to the habit of the people of giving the name of the country to the capital. None of the people know it by any other than Sham. Scripture speaks of it in the earliest ages. Abram, in his appeal to God on his childlessness, says his steward is Eliezer of Damascus.

Damascus was besieged and taken by David and by Jeroboam. It was one of the western frontier towns of the great Persian empire: it was independent-surrendered to Alexander; it has played its part in every succeeding age, and yet it is green and lovely as ever, though beauty and verdure have been its own for upwards of forty centuries. At the time of St. Paul it belonged to the kingdom of Arabia Petræa.

In A.D. 632, Abubeker, having secured his

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throne and his faith, sent his circular to the Arab tribes:-" In the name of the most merciful GodHealth and happiness and the mercy and blessing of God be upon you, &c. I intend to send you to Syria, to take it out of the hands of the infidels." Quickly the chivalry of the Desert poured in at his call, panting with heat, and longing for spoil. They murmured at the delay necessary to accumulate their forces. He himself reviewed them at Mecca, and on foot led them forth. Soft words of peace, of charity, and of mercy flowed from his lips as he waved them onwards to ruin and to spoil. And what could withstand such a force? An effeminate and unwarlike soldiery, an impotent monarch, a faith debased by its own dominancehow could it encounter with any hope of success the hardy sons of freedom, panting for spoil and conquest; a heaven above promised if they fell, a heaven on earth theirs if victorious?

"Paradise is under the shadow of swords," and they spread over the Haoran with the speed of their hailans (high-bred horses). Abu Obediah had the nominal command, but the Sword of God (Caled) was their real leader. In A.D. 633, they encamped in the environs of Damascus. Not as

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114 DAMASCUS THE CAPITAL OF THE CALIPHS.

their prophet did they turn from it to the Desert, but though the resistance was desperate, so was their pertinacity. A noble ransom was offered by the city. "Ye Christian dogs," replied the Caliph, "you know your option-the Koran, the tribute, or the sword!" Then, nobly worthy of more glorious days, the Romans mustered for the fray. The Moslems, life-long conquerors, paused, and feared., "Ah!" exclaimed their chief, "this is God's mercy. We cannot escape, but Syria may now be ours in one single day." Twice the sun rose upon the field, twice he set; but the second eve, he saw the loss of the once proud empire of the East: that day sealed its fate-henceforth the Crescent ruled its destinies.

Damascus made a short and gallant resistance. Two women caused its immediate fall. The Moslem wife Aban, who rallied their hosts and led their van; and the fair Eudocia, whose lover for the love she scorned, betrayed his faith, his country, and his cause. It was subsequently, during the Ommaide dynasty, the capital of the Caliphs, those monarchs wisely preferring it to the more sanctified but less delightful Medina. During the Crusades, it was rather the stronghold of the Saracens