Damascus was formerly a great emporium of trade between Europe and the East; its trans port trade declined with the opening of the Suez Canal; but it is still a large buyer and still imports English cottons and other goods. It is also a place of considerable manufacturing in dustry. There are a number of manufactories of silk, damasks, cotton and other fabrics; numerous cotton-printing and dyeing establish ments, tobacco factories, copper and iron found ries and glass works. The manufacture of Damascus blades, for which the city was once so celebrated, no longer exists. Saddles and bridles, rich and highly finished, fine cabinet work and elegant jewelry, are among the manu factures of Damascus. Fruit is an article of export. Damascus is one of the holy cities of Islam and here the pilgrims assemble on their journey to, and separate on their return from Diecca. The tomb of Fatima, daughter and only child of Mohammed, is an object of special veneration. Buckle, the historian of civilization, is buried in the Protestant cemetery.
Damascus to-day is perhaps the most thor oughly Oriental in all its features and char acteristics of any city in existence. Of its
origin nothing certain is known. There is, how ever, abundant evidence of its great antiquity, as it is mentioned in Gen. xiv, 15, as existing 1913 a.c., and appears even then to have been a place of note. At subsequent periods it fell succesively under the power of the Israelites under David, the Persians, Greeks and Romans, attaining great eminence under the last. In 1516 it fell into the hands of the Turks. A Protestant mission and schools have long been in operation here. Beirout is the seaport of Damascus, and is reached by a road 70 miles long. There are three railroads entering the city, the main line running to Beirout. Gas, electricity and street cars have been introduced. Pop. estimated at about 250,000, of whom perhaps 25,000 are Christians, and 11,000 Jews. Consult Porter, 'Five Years in (London 1870) ; Macintosh, 'Damascus and Its People) (London 1882) ; and articles by A. Fordor in Nat. Geog. Mag., January 1911, and R Hichens in the Century, February 1910.