DAMASCUS.

[From Rae Wilson's Travels in the Holy Land.]

DAMASCUS ranks as a city of high antiquity. It is supposed to to take its name from the blood of Abel,- Dam signifying, in the Hebrew language, blood; and Sack, a righteous person." In the earliest part of the sacred volume we find it distinguished as a theatre of many extraordinary events; and it stands at the head of Syria, of which it is the metropolis. Isaiah vii. 8. Abraham repaired to it in pursuit of those monarchs, who brought his brother into a state of captivity, from which he rescued him. It is also supposed to have been founded by him, Gen. xiv. 14-16, and it was the birth-place of his steward Eliezer. Garrisons were established here by David, after he had subdued the Syrians, 1 Chron. xviii. 6, and had taken a multitude of them prisoners, 2 Samuel viii. 8. Ahaz, king of Israel, offered up sacrifices to the gods of Damascus, and destroyed the vessels of the house of the Lord, 2 Chron. xxviii. When Solomon went after other gods, he was punished by the revolt of his people; so that they stirred up Rezon against him, who reigned here. From that period the kingdom of Israel became separate from that of Judah; and was governed by its own monarchs. It must be considered as having been a place of extensive trade and commerce, since it is alluded to by different prophets, as a distinguished town for merchandise and riches. This city was captured by the Saracen princes, who took up their residence here, till Bagdad was prepared for them; and after many revolutions, it was taken and destroyed by Tamerlane. It was again repaired by the Mamelukes, when they obtained possession of Syria, but was wrested from them by the Turks in 1506. wards it was reduced to ashes by the emperor Timur. Baldwin, the second of that name, a warrior highly distinguished by acts of heroism, fell upon Jerusalem, and beat the king of Damascus. In 1759, three thousand of the inhabitants were destroyed by an earthquake.

After

This city is situated in a valley, called by the Arabs, El-shaw, and famous among orientals under the name of Gouteh Demask, or the orchard of Damascus, and watered by the Chrysorrhoas, or golden stream, now Baradi; and infidels entertain an idea, that it was the original paradise. It is two miles in length, from north-east to southwest; but its breadth is not in proportion to it, being extremely narrow,

• [This derivation has in it more of fancy than probability. Calmet supposes, that as the root, (DAMEH,) from which this name is derived, signifies equable, level, uniform, flat, the word DAMASCUS means, THE IRRIGATED OR Watered PLACE IN THE LEVELS; and its situation agrees with this derivation. The city standing at some distance from the mountains of Libanus, and between rivers that terminate in an extensive marsh, its site is altogether LEVEL, and is perpetually IRRIGATED.-EDITOR.]

and it is divided into twenty-three districts. The circumference of the whole is about twenty miles, and it appears to have formerly been enclosed within three strong walls, Jeremiah xlix. 27; Amos i. 4, 5. During the crusades, the eastern part was deemed impregnable. The place is beautifully situated, in the very bosom of gardens. There are two hundred mosques. The place was held peculiarly sacred by Mussulmans, from being on the road to Mecca. The air is fine, though the streets are narrow. The houses are of the colour of clay, resembling the meanest cottages in Britain, and of the most perishing materials. Few of them have floors of wood, and there are few windows. The roofs are flat like a terrace, which are spread over with a kind of plaster, and made firm with a roller. Several domestic offices are performed on them, such as drying linen, flax, etc. The apartments in houses of a superior class are in the back part, where the inmates are in a state of complete seclusion. There is a large quadrangular court within, open at the top, and finely paved with marble, and ornamented with plants and fountains of water. Towards the streets, the houses have few or no windows, but appear like blank walls, similar to those in Jerusalem, in which there is a gate or wicket, so small as to require those who enter to stoop very low. Such narrow entries must have been alluded to, in the expression used by our Lord, in answer to a question put to him regarding the number of those who should be saved.

The zeal of the early christians founded churches here; and a magnificent cathedral, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is now converted into a mosque. There are two hospitals, for the reception of those affected with leprosy. One was founded by Solyman the magnificent, and that is a remarkable example of Mahommedan toleration, and of his munificent spirit; it was opened for poor pilgrims of all denominations, although at present appropriated exclusively for the use of the infidels. The castle is the principal building. It is a large structure, with square towers, and calculated to be nearly one mile in circumference, like a small town within itself. Among the different gates of the city is one, where certain articles passing through are exempted from duty, in consequence of its being the gate leading to parts of Mecca, and hence considered a via sacra. Damascus is a place of general rendezvous for pilgrims on the eve of setting out on a visit to the tomb of their prophet, and the caravans pass through this gate. Contiguous to the city is a field, set apart for the Mahommetans exercising their troops. There are places of repose and of recreation in the gardens, and on the banks of the river. The cafés are very attractive in this place.

No person who has been trained in the principles of the gospel can set his foot in Damascus, without recollecting that most striking miracle which was wrought in the conversion of Saul. About a quarter of a mile from the east gate, or, as it is called, Babe Shirke, is a place pointed out as that where Saul was suddenly arrested in his exterminating career, by the powerful arm of Omnipotence. The exact spot where this striking visitation took place, is marked out by heaps of

gravel and earth. Hither, on the 25th of January, annually, the christians in Damascus walk in procession, and read the history of it in the Acts of the Apostles; on which occasion, it is singular that the pasha of the city affords the accommodation of Turkish guards to protect them from insult. Between this place and the town, a piece of ground is appropriated for the interment of christians, where a tomb is erected in memory of an individual named George, a native or inhabitant of the place, who suffered martyrdom for having connived at the escape of Paul, and is dignified with the appellation of saint. Here acts of devotion are performed in an illumined cell, from the roof of which a solitary lamp is suspended; and the alms of visitors, whether from curiosity, or a better motive, are solicited by a guardian in attendance.

The place was pointed out to me where the great Apostle of the Gentiles was secretly let down under the cloud of night, Acts ix. 25, after the manner of Rahab in the case of the spies, Josh. ii., from the top of the fortification, in order to avoid the fury of the Jews, who had vowed to sacrifice him for his change of principles. The house of Judas, in which the Apostle was found after his eyes were opened, is also shewn. This is at present a miserable cellar or grotto, the access to which is by a descent. It is a remarkable fact, that the street denominated" Straight" in the Scriptures, Acts ix. 11, where this house stands, and which forms the principal thoroughfare in the city, is of considerable extent, and falls literally under that name, which it still retains, running in a direct line, and very narrow. All these sacred places lie to the east of the city, where the convent is also situated; and the christians dwell together in a body, totally distinct from the Turks; this quarter having been, in all probability, selected from those events which formerly occurred in it, so highly interesting to the cause of christianity, and the furtherance of the gospel of peace.

There is one remarkable tradition handed down here, concerning a meadow on the west side of the city, which is divided in the middle of the stream; it is, that God made Adam of the earth of this plain, which is confirmed by the circumstance of its being of a reddish colour, since Adam, in the Hebrew tongue, signifies red. Again, it is supposed that the garden of Eden, must have been in the vicinity of Damascus; although others fix it on the banks of the Euphrates.

The city contains several thousands of inhabitants; but alas! how melancholy is the consideration to contemplative minds, that so small a remnant is left who have the courage to bow to the cross of Christ, and sincerely profess the religion which was preached so boldly within its walls. Nothing can, in my apprehension, point out more clearly, the base ingratitude and corruption of man; for surely not a few among the votaries of Mahommedan delusion must, in their hearts, do secret homage to the noble precepts of christianity, and detest the bloodthirsty dogmas of their own faith.

Any Member of the Committee or Friend of the Society will be permitted to speak, after the person conducting the Meeting has finished his address.

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PRAYER ON A WRECK.

About the time of our leaving home (says one of the missionaries in the Sandwich Islands,) a sorrowful providence occurred. The brethren at Honolulu, fearing that we should not venture upon a canoe, engaged a vessel, which was to go to Hawaii for Mr. Lyons, and to call on its return and take us. The vessel made its passage to Hawaii; and, when near its place of destination, was capsized and lost. All on board, consisting of thirty souls, were drowned, except four; these seemed to be miraculously preserved, to tell the sad fate of their companions.

When the accident occurred, they were near the shore, but the wind and current were against them; and thinking it vain to attempt to reach Hawaii, they congregated themselves upon the rolling billows, and there together, in their distress, offered up their supplications to Him who alone could preserve them from the threatening deep.

They attempted to swim to Kahoolura, some thirty miles on the opposite side of the chanuel. One man and his wife took a covered bucket, and tied it to their bodies, and in this way swam until the bucket came to pieces. The female swam for some time, but on turning she saw her husband becoming too weak to support himself-she stopped and rubbed him, until he could proceed. They continued to swim till Kahoolura was full in sight; he then became too feeble to proceed without assistance, and supported himself by holding on to the long hair of his wife's head. In this way she towed him for some time; his hand soon let go the hold, and she tried in vain to rouse him. She told him he must pray-he commenced, but only uttered a few words.

She put his arms round her neck, held him with one hand, and made for the shore. When within about half a mile from the shore, she found he was dead, and she was compelled to let go her hold, to support herself. They had been in the water about thirty hours. When she landed, she was three days before she saw a human being, and was without food. At length some fishermen found her, and conveyed her to the village, where she is now in good health. The captain of the vessel was a foreigner, and could swim but little; his wife saved herself by the assistance of an oar. The others disappeared from time to time, until all perished but the four.

TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES put those in a position to receive the truth, who otherwise could never come within the reach of it.

INTEMPERANCE prevents and indisposes both its votaries and their families from coming within the reach of christian, moral, social, or any of the various influences, by which they may be improved! for, when once it is indulged, worldly affairs go wrong,-poverty, despair, and wretchedness, of every description generally characterise the whole family, and, in short, it sinks them into the greatest moral degradation.

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