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652 DAMASCUS These suburbs lead into the Meidan, another suburb running S., which terminates in Bawa- bet Illah (the gate of God), through which the caravans pass on their way to Mecca. Da- mascus is regular and cleanly for an oriental city ; its streets are long and narrow, and tol- erably paved with basalt, and many of its resi- dences, though mean and unattractive without, are magnificent within. Almost every house has a fountain more or less decorated in the middle of the court. The market places are well constructed and adorned with numerous pillars. There are many fine baths with marble payements. The bazaars are numer- ous. Each class of merchants and artisans has its own bazaar, some of them being very extensive, as those of the goldsmiths, the drug- gists, the butchers, traders in cotton stuffs, pipe makers, &c. The great khan is a large building filled with various commodities, and frequented by merchants from distant lands. Many of the khans are of great antiquity, and afford even in their present state a good idea of the manner in which business was con- ducted in ancient times. Besides the mosque Abd el-Malek, there are several others of much beauty, four Jewish synagogues, and Greek, Maronite, Syrian, and Armenian churches. The most numerous Christian com- munion is the Non-united Greek church, of which the third highest dignitary, the patri- arch of Antioch, has since the 16th century re- sided in Damascus. It is also the seat of the United Greek (Melchite) patriarch, and of a United Syrian and of a Maronite archbishop. The first Protestant congregation has been organized by Presbyterian missionaries from America. Damascus is the centre of the coin- Damascus. merce of Syria ; and its trade is very much in- creased by its forming the meeting point of all the pilgrims to Mecca from the north of Asia. The number of pilgrims who make Damascus their place of rendezvous, with their atten- dants, amounts annually to several thousands. The city at such times presents the appearance of a vast fair, and every vacant place is filled with camels, horses, mules, and merchandise. Caravans proceed from Damascus also to Bag- dad and Cairo. The principal imports by these various channels are broadcloths, different sorts of metals from the coasts of the Mediterranean, and shawls, muslins, and Indian stuffs, which are brought by way of England. Its own manufactures consist chiefly of silk and cotton fabrics, highly finished saddles and bridles, fine cabinet work, jewelry, gold and silver trim- ming, and excellent soap, made of olive oil, soda, and quicklime. Large quantities of dried fruits and sweetmeats are exported to Con- stantinople. In former days Damascus was celebrated for the manufacture of sabres that would bend to the hilt without breaking, while the edge was so keen as to divide the firmest coat of mail. (See DAMASCUS BLADES.) This very ancient city was built, according to some traditions, by Uz, the son of Aram ; it is repeatedly mentioned in the history of Abra- ham. It was the residence of the kings of Syria during three centuries, and has experi- enced many and great changes in every period of its history. Hadad, who is called by Jo- sephus the first of its kings, was conquered by David, king of Israel, but its subjection was of short duration. In the reign of Ahaz it was taken by Tiglath-pileser, who slew its last king Rezin, and added its provinces to the Assyr- ian empire. The capture of Damascus figures among the lately discovered Assyrian sculp-