For
instance, I went for a walk one day, and met a small boy leading a donkey
laden with radishes, as high as a small tree. I suppose that I was
strange-looking, for at the sight of me the donkey kicked up his heels
and threw all the radishes about a hundred yards around. The poor little
boy set up a howl. I ran to help him, but the more I tried the more the
donkey ran away, and at last I understood by signs that the donkey was
shying at me, so I threw the boy a coin and retreated, and sent another
boy to help him. We called to an old man riding a shabby-looking horse,
but the moment the horse saw me it did exactly the same thing, and nearly
flung the old man off. My sides ached with laughing. Fancy being so
queer that the animals take fright at one!
I think before I go further I ought to give some general idea of the
city of Damascus as it appeared to me. I have already said that my first
sight of the city was one of disappointment; but when I got to know it
better its charm grew upon me, and I shall never till I die like any
place so well. Damascus, as I suppose every one knows, is the largest
town in Syria. In shape it is rather like a boy's kite, with a very long
tail. The tail of the kite is the Maydan, the poorest part of Damascus,
but rich in ruined mosques and hammams, and houses which at first sight
look as though they are in decay. But when we got to know these houses
better, we found that marble courts, inlaid chambers, arabesque ceilings,
often lay behind the muddy exteriors.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25