ATTACK ON THE CITADEL OF DAMASCUS BEFORE THE INVENTION OF GUNPOWDER.
"Back of the mosque is the Citadel, which was once a strong fortress, but is now little better than a ruined pile of brick and stone. Most of the rooms are unfit for occupation, and we were not allowed to go inside. The castle played a prominent part in the defence of Damascus before the invention of artillery, but it is of no consequence now that we have gunpowder and the weapons for using it."
PAUL LED INTO DAMASCUS.
[Chapter XXXII.]
DAMASCUS TO BEYROOT.—THE RUINS OF BAALBEC.—FAREWELL.
From Damascus to Beyroot there is the only good wagon road in all Syria; it was built by a French company under a concession from the Turkish Government, and is a fine specimen of engineering skill. Twice a day a diligence or stage-coach runs each way; the distance is nearly a hundred miles, and the journey is made in about thirteen hours. The company has its own freight-wagons, and sends a train out every day to carry merchandise at certain fixed rates. A heavy toll is levied on all parties using the road, whether for passengers or freight, or even for saddle-animals, and it is an odd sight to see trains of camels and horses plodding through the rocks and mud of the old bridle-path side by side with the macadamized road.