"From the arms bazaar we went to the great mosque, and then to the Citadel, passing on the way a shop devoted to the sale of those peculiar fabrics known as damask, which detained us a few minutes. Damascus for centuries had the monopoly of the manufacture of this article, but it is now all over Europe, and the city retains little more than the name. We asked to be shown the factory where it was made, but they said the workmen were out for a holiday, and the place was closed, but if we called around next week they could oblige us. Of course they knew we would be off in a day or two, as nobody remains long here, and so we could only smile and thank them for their politeness. But we didn't buy. "The mosque occupies an area of five hundred feet by three hundred, and is an imposing building, on the whole, though inferior to some of the Moslem edifices we saw at Cairo. The central dome is a hundred and twenty feet high, and rests on four massive pillars; the shrine on the eastern side is elaborately carved, and there is a cave beneath it in which the head of John the Baptist is said to be preserved in a golden casket. [Illustration: 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." [Illustration: 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. [Illustration: A CARAVAN NEAR DAMASCUS.] Frank and Fred wanted to travel by this modern road, but their enthusiasm was a trifle dampened by the suggestion of the Doctor.