ALLIES AND SYRIA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 77, 26 December 1918, Page 5

ALLIES AND SYRIA

»——— j THE SEAPORT OF BEIRUT. j Beirut, the most important seaport ol the coast of Syria, aud recently captured from tho Turks prior to the cessation ol hostilities, is situated on the south eidt of St. George's Bay, on rising ground at tho foot of Lebanon. At no period of long history was it more important thai now, being pore European than any othe) city of Turkey in Asia. Prior to the wai most of tho native merchants transacted business with many mercantile cities in Europe, having their own agents and rej presentatives to'look" after their interests! The natives are less Oriental in theii ways than in any other Syrian towni and English, French, and Italian are all freely spoken. Of a population of 130,0 M only' a small percentage are Mohammedans. The firee'k Orthodox Churqh boasti the largest following, but the Maronito) and Greek Catholics are largely reprej sented. There are ajiout twice as mantf Roman Catholics as Protestants, soma 1500 Jews, and 23X> "miscellaneous Christians." ... !

The view of Beirut as the visitor enters tho harbour is very beautiful, with the groat eweop of St. George's Bay and its foreshore covered with red-tilea houses, 1 backed by groves of mulberry and pomegranate. Behind, there are sloping hillsides terraced for the cultivation of corn and vines and olives, while in the distance are the mountains, which in the spring ' are now snow-capped. During the winter and spring months the climate is delightful, but though very hot in 6ummer tho air is tempered by tbO fresh breezes which come from the lofty] Lebanon range and tho sea. Many d& lightful residences are situated on thei hillsides at some 4000 ft. above sea level, 1 and to those the wealthy European inhabitants migrate during the hottest, months. I Originally known as Berytus, the. town: at first appears to have been of but; little importauce. It was destroyed 8.C.; 140 by Tryphon, tho usurper of the', throne of Syria, but the Remans rebuilt and colonised it, and for somo time it camo into favour as a seat of learning,! to which students from, all parts of the | known world were attracted. The, golden, age of the city's literary glory lasted till! tho middle of the sixth century, when,' in A.D. 551, Berytus was laid in juins by. an earthquake, and most of its loarnedj men fled for refuge to Sidon. Tho cityj lay for many years in a half-mined oon-1 dition, and in 635 was captured by the! Moslems. In 1125 Beirut was takea by, the Crusaders under Balwjn I, and was; made tho seat of a Latin bishop. After; tho Battle of Hattin, it foil info posses-; sion of {fcladin in 1187, from which period', until the beginning of the seventeenth* century it was iittlo more than & village.; The renowned Dru6e Fakr-ed-Din restor-> ed tho dignity of tho. town, erecting a; palaco there i'or himself in 1625. Mak-j ing friends with tho Veretians, he threw j off tho yoke of Turkey, and protected th9| Christians, thereby, however, incurring! the dislike of the Syrians, who were in-' tolerant of his Western sympathies. His,' son was slain at Safed by tho Turks, and j he himself was captured and taken to. Constantinople, where 'lie was strangled; by order of tho Sultan Tmurath. Abdul-'', lah Pasha took tho city from the Druses.' in 1789, and in 18-10 it was bombarded by j tho English and handed ovor to the Otto-; man Bmpiro. •<