Introductory material
Reading edition
Mountains of Lebanon.—Grand Scenery.—Sublime View.—Mountain Traveling.—Scriptural Allusions.—Cedars of Lebanon.—Their Number, Appearance, and symbolic Character.—Population of the Mountains.—Districts and Peculiarities of the Druzes and Maronites.—New Road.—Crossing the Mountains.—Plain of the Bukâ’a.—Leontes.—A swollen River.—Ancient Cities.—Imposing Cavalcade.—Wives of the Pasha of Damascus.—First View of Damascus.—Splendor and Enjoyments of the Interior of the City.—Great Plain of Damascus.—Abana and Pharpar.—Scene of St. Paul’s Conversion.—City without Ruins.—Antiquity and thrilling History of Damascus.—House of Judas.—Home of Ananias.—“Street called Straight.”—Naaman’s Palace.—Tombs of the Great.—Location of Damascus.—Walls and Gates.—Old Castle.—Great Mosque.—Gardens of Damascus.—Commerce of the City.—Curiosities in the Bazars.—Population.—Christian Citizens.—Origin of the Massacre of 1860.—Its Progress.—Terrible Scenes.—American Vice-Consul.—Ruins.—Sad Results.—Defense of the Christians by Abd-el-Kader.—Visit to the Chieftain of Algiers.—Our Reception.—Testimonials.—His Appearance.—Conclusion.—Political History of Palestine.—Its Condition under the Turks.—It is now in a Transition State.—Possessions of European Nations.—Future of the Holy Land.—Christian Missions.—Decline of Mohammedanism.—Religious Liberty.—Future Glory.