HASZAitl)’s

G.-\ 7. l'I'l lb, AUGUST

23.

SYRIA AND THE DISERT.

Water and heat are indispensable to vege- tation. There can be no deﬁciency as to heat in Syria, owing to the latitude in which that country is situated; but the abun- undant heat becomes a cause of sterility, if water be wanting. When we speak ofa desert, most persons think that the soil consists only of sand, in which the elements for the support of plants do not exist. This is true as to the deserts ofLybia, but does not apply to the wilds of Arabia. When rain falls vegetation ﬂourishies to a degree that causes astonishment to those who witness it for the first time. But to the as- tonishment to those who witness it for the first time. But as the summer follows very shortly after the rainy season, and the rains are never very abundant, and moisture is soon dried up, the plants, which began to grow in alltheir beauty, ai-e soon withered, as by a blast from a ﬁrey oven.

Thus tli-- desert that stretches from the Euphrates to the valley ofthc Orontes and Antilebanon, is in a certain sense very fruitful, and still the liarvests are not pro-

uctive. Hence it comes to pass, that the inhabitants have not often ﬁxed themselves in settled habitations, and the Bedouins have been compelled to wander with the ﬂocks which formed their chief possessions. If they should remain stationary, they would be compelled to abadon their hope of obtaining sustenance for their cattle.

The iulluence of the climate is altogether different in those parts of Syria which lie between the desert and the Medi-

terranean. Tlie westerly winds, that bring with them the moisture derived from the sea increasetlie amount of rain. A like

effect is produced by the snow which in winter falls in Lebanon, and moderates

our.

forth he and the proprietor are brethern ; that secret bond unites them ;

belongs will come to the rescue.

tryman may well wish to decline the fa- vour. The otﬁcious Bedouin will be sure to intimate that he expects some compen- sation for this mighty protection, and some token ofthe attachment which his brother feels toward him. l’Vithout further cere- mony, the price at which this fraternity is to be valued will be ﬁxed at a yearly pay- ment of two hundred, or at least one liun- dred piastres ; the amount altogether de- ending on the generosity of the Bedouin. Thus a contract is made, and the country- man will do well to take care that he has his inoncy in readiness ; for if it be not paid, the tribe that is to protect him will hasten to plunder him. But it may he asked, VVhy do not the

hope that no Bedouin will become his neigh- b Should the far-seeing son of the desert approach him he will not fail to re-

uest the favour ofbeing allowed to place one stone in the building, and then will most zealously maintain that from hence-

and that if any one should attack his person or prop~ erty, the whole tribe to which the Bedouin This is certainly it great protection, but the coun-

They could not blockade a place, as they are obliged to wander about, in order to tind grass and water tor their ﬂocks. They might be successfully attacked by a regi- ment of cavalry, who could follow their movements.

it must he confessed that the fortifications which were built for the protection of the bridges over the Jordan are in a sad state of dilapidation ; but as they are by no means extensive, it would not cost much to restore them. Two or three mortars would suiiice to keep the Bedouins at a distance. They seldom carry on an attack for any length of time.

And beside this, it may be observed that want of perseverance on their part has been found greatly to assist the inhabitants of the villages on the line from Hebron to Gaza, in their endeavours to defend them- selves against the Bedouins. As soon as a regular discharge of musketry takes place, they retire.

Mr. Stephens, in his incidents of Trav- el, mentions, that tombstones in the Turkish burying grounds are all flat, and conta n hollows which hold the water after a rain, mid attract the birds, which resort thither lto slake their thirst and sing amongst the

authorities help the. poor pea-.-iiits in these f trues.

difficulties 2?

these disputes. They are soon frightened,

arid the indoleiice of tlie pashas leads them

to wish to avoid quarrelling with the ouins.

tain sum every year to some of the tribes

for protecting the caravans ofpilgrinis who,

the heat and dryness of at least a part of the hot season ofthc year.

The Turlti.-'li autlioi-ities have | enough to do to take care of themselves‘ when the Bedouins attack them, aml they, would as soon touch tire as interfere inﬁ

(‘ti-i The Sublime Porte itselfeven coiin-| tenances these extortions by pt'l_\‘lll_J ii ct-r-l

LATEST l".R()M AUSTRALIA.

There have been several arrivals from the ditfereiit Australian colonies during the lcoursc of tlie_ week, and the intelligence [they bring, if not so startling and important .as we have been previously accustomed to, is nevertheless highly interesting and im-

ortant. Some apprehensions are express- led on account of the scarcity of labour of all kinds, and it was feared, that the pro-

visit Mecca “'0'” “.'fm,,‘° “”.‘°' They can Lgress ofthc public and private works would “"5 l"‘."'""“‘ *1”?-"";, l’”' " ""L-'1" "'“l"-"iiluo iiecessiirily in some degree arrested. be called it‘ rt-nt, as the -'\""l‘3 ‘.]‘.';'l‘lie reports from the gold tliggings con- not look upon it as in any int-asnre ii gilt g ,-,

iine very fnroni-riblc ; several new places

The care. moreover, which is taken in ‘ frozn :1 .<u_-or-i-yr, Thus, .<oiiiv- vczirs since» __ _ . . _ _ the more fzivoureil parts of Syria, to make l .i paslia \\n~ \'i.~‘ilcil by i’.~.i- lilaclc .~'(3l‘\'1ll!li:||?,:jt :l;_i;'(:],,§:)::]i::‘i"',i|‘,:_ii:,i the most of every spring of writer, is \'CI'_\' of one oftfw :-‘iiels of rim ledoiiiiis. llislwncs, 1, ml)” dim,iR,,_, “.,,.0,; mg ,m.,.,,,,. . remarkable. As I looked at the cisterns, cloak ivas til rzittci-s, :ir.d his .~'ltIvt‘s, which i “Id ,h;i,_ lubU,,,,':°m__':,;_ ,,,,‘cudcd Wm’, which abound even on the borders “fl-A“lN1',lItl(l lit-3(‘ll once rod, could no loiiger he sat !'c,_‘._, SL_,.L_,.,,l MW sl,,,,-,9 h,,,.,_ 1,9,,” Sunk non, and are intended to provide water for 3 to be of any p:irticnlai- coloiir wli:it<“""'- l on Allie \\'l|l(lﬂlllll Reels.‘ At the Ticttiriti

the mulberry trees, I was reminded of the! saying of Solomon, “ I made me. pools ofl

Wale!‘ !0 Wﬂlcl‘ ll|el‘CWillt llltu‘ \V00tl lllﬂllniitl l'(‘f(‘l‘l't‘(l him to his ti-eusiii'ei', that he

most courtesy, olli-red him a pipe and roll} e.

The pashu received tlii.-2 man with the int-

lliecf, several claims have been lately sold at high prices, and the whole line ofgroiind presents a most healthy appearance. One

I - I ” ‘ - ' ' ' ' v 1 v i : i u - .

bringeth foith trees. ‘( l‘.( cl. ii. 0 \. in I inight receive theaii.oi.i>t llllt. to his i_i..i.«ir r. ,,,_,,._=,,,, gm,“ c,.,,S|,ed 90‘, ounces M‘ gum our ivell-watered coiiiitru‘.-*. We 5"'|""|||1CS.iii accordaiice with the i--»i.tr:ict \\'lllt'l| haul out ot ti-ii tiiiis of quart; Serious riots have to coniplaiii nt- ill-dz.-iposed |ICI'r6UllS, I been made with him in .-rdI.-i- to \/'(.‘Clll‘L' his hm wk“. plme nmunk, me ,"im,,_‘, at BB]: who out ofrevi-iige, cut down and dcsti'oylfriendship. After a few iiiiiiuti-s ii «_:i-out “HI, Aw‘. ,O,,,,,h,,wk_, pick‘, Mudgcmh;

t . . . . , ., ., _,

the trees which increase the value of the noise was heard ; the tre:i.<urei- cntci-ed it-.o

possessions oftheir ciieniies.

such men destroy the cisterns and till npi

the wells ; they know that the desolating

in the East, room in great alarm, and informed the palisa that the negro had refused to accept pav- iiient in small coins, and insisted on l't‘C(‘l\'- Winds will 800!) Complete the Iniscllioli ; ing the whole in gold ; and that on his at- Thus Isaac suffered frome the hatred of his,

tempting to explain the iiintter, he had

and blocks ofro.-id metal were bi-onglit into play, and liuiidi-eds of men are said to have been seriously injured The returns for the banks of Australia during the first qnai-ter ofthc pi-i-sent year are very satis- factory, showing a steady progressive busi-

eneniies. (Gen. xxvi.) Nothing changes‘ swept the money, wliich lay before him m__‘._, 'p|,,, d,.,,,,s;ts ,,,,, ,,,c,.e,,s,,, , in ,, in the East. The history ofthc Bible des-vrendy counted, from the table on which it ,,_(:_,',c,_ mm, man we linbimies 50,- H", cribes events which occur in our tiincs. , was placed with the solo of his boot. The c”l(,,,,__.m_. M “,0 banks '

The Arabs have varions laws respecting

enforced with extreme strictness. The plains of Damascus aﬁbrd abundant evidence ofthc fruitfulness of the land in Syria, when it is well watered. Iftbe two streams, the Barada and the Awascli, were to fail, the plians ofDamascus, now so fruit- ful, would be as barren as the desert, which stretches out beyond their borders. The beauty of the environs of Damascus has often been celebrated by poets. The town itself, with its narrow, filthy streets, and the dull monotony of its mud-built houses, forms indeed a sad contrast to the surround- ing neighbourhood. But still its two liun- dred thousand inhabitants, and the extensive commerce in which they are engaged, show how fertile the soil must be, and how great the natural advantages which they enjoy. But Damascus suﬂ'ers from the Bedouins, who assist in carrying on commerce, but occasion much misc iel'. The evils which iliey inflict are increased by the weakness of the Turkish authorities, who are unable to restrain them, and by the practice of use , which causes so much misery in this otherwise favoured country.

The Arabs are not only uilty of stealing, but they have a method o laying the coun- try people under contribution, which is even worse than direct and open robbery. The

Bedouins talk a great deal about “ frater- nity ;" and they are not content with offer- ing this " fraternity,” they compel the poor country people to accept it. If a man builds a house or a stable, he may well

,pasba was friglitcncd.

in gold.

lost in the distance. population.

which is practised by the trace the evil to its source.

forthese evils. The Bedouins must

acknowledge the authority of the Sultan, but little respect.

cient, if distributed in different stations and fortified places, to gard the entire length ofthc river Jordan. The Bedouins have no artillery or means for storming a fertili- ed lace. Their troops are chieﬂy cavalry, an could not attack such places with any prospect of success. The Turkish troops are now or anized like European soldiers, and would ave but little to fear from the

Bedouins, who do not use any bsyonets.

The negro was in- the rights of property in wells, which are vited to see him again seivcd with a pipe and coﬂ'ee, was flattered and caressed : his wrath abated, and at length he agreed, as‘ an ultimatum, to receive-. one-half of the

amount in small coins, and the remainder The pasha did not regain his coin- posure until the negro with his bag were

it is often said that the oppression of the Tukrs ruin both the Christian and Jewish ' There is some reason for this complaint ; but we must also look at the ex- tortions of the Bedouins, and to the usury Mohammedan, Christian, and Jewish bankers, in order to

It is not difficult to discover a remedy be conﬁned to the deserts, properly so called. Thus the settled population would be freed from innumerable sufferings, and the Bed- ouins themselves would be compelled to

for whom they seem at present to entertain

Three battalions of infantry would be suffi-

Tlio Ovens and Murray .‘lilrrrlisri- says : —-“ In consequence ofthc success of vari- ous parties near M‘l)onnld's Restaurant, at the Oiie-niile, a large rush set into that quarter. The rush commenced six days ago, and since that time about halfa dozen public houses have been erected and in- numerable branch stores and restaurants have been opened. A few days ago M‘Donald’s house stood alone at the top of the hill, and there was not a tent to be seen betweenthat place and Spring Creek: there are now nearly two miles of closely packed tents, stores, &c., and these are mostly ofa substantial description. The diggings ex- tend over a very large space. Something like a regular lead has been discovered heading towards Madinan’s Gully, and a number of good patches have been found on both sides of the road, and in the direc- ii in of the race course. A few holes here and there are bottomed, and some of these are yielding half an ounce to the dish. A party arrived in town yesterday, who re-

orted the discovery ofa rich quartz reef in the neighbourhood of the Bucklsnd-road, and about ﬁve miles from Reilly's. This new reef is alleged to be richer tlisn any other in the district. The reef is about two miles olfthe road, in a westerly direc- tion, and on the top of a range opposite John's Flat. The name of the discoverer is John Sheard, and he gives publicity to the particulars in order that himself and

pectors of the vein, to an increased claim

mates may become entitled, as the pros-» g ° isnd which could do nothing without him

on the crown of the reef. There is a good deal ofspeculation going on jug; now in the purchase of claims and shares of claims. A few days ago, two of the bosses sold, each, one fourth share oftheir respec- tive claims, the former begging the },and_ 50109 Sum of £900 These claims are situated nearly opposite the Hit or Miss Hotel, and both ofthem had been consider. ably well worked. The bosses on their bidding farewell to the woolslied ave their workmen a grand supper at thd a ova hotel. A suliicient sum has been collected to erect a bridge ovor.tlie gully near Scott’; bakery without seelim. Government aid, It is to be commenced immediately.”

Tu: GALLEY Suvss’ Rsvoi.-r.-A dis- '""l"“'°° Qccurred some days since among the galley-slaves of Civita Vecehia. It ap- pears, that _the Government pa ii them a small gratuity for their daily work, and that this pay is continued even when there is no work. Lately, however, orders were received from Rome only to pay for work done. This led to seditious cries on the part ofthc prisoners, who refused to go to mass on ii Sunday, and as the guolers en- forced. the regulation by the aid ofthe cane, one of the prisoners resented the chastise- inent by returning blow for blow. The disturbance was quelled by the military, and on the following day, seven of the cal- prits received ‘.25 strokes ofthc bastinado.

A letter from Brescia of the llth says: —“ Our province is infested with brigands; ii band of forty miscreants spreads terror among the peasantry. The chief of this band is called Stringliini, and his band con- sists of Hungarians and Poles, chieﬂy dc. serters. The other day. one of the richest land-owners of Maiituii, M. Pastore di Cas- tiglione, was seized by these ruﬂians, and had to pay 8,0(l0f. as the price of his liberty."

A terrible and fatal riot occurred at New Orleans on the l'2th ult, at a hall given by the Shamrock Society; ii young man named Thoiiias Barry was killed, and another named Alexander McDonnell was wounded. An altercation amongst some men in the back part of the room was the first evidence of what occurred, at L’ o’t-lock; immediately after, a general ﬁght ensued. At this tiriie, the hall is I'0[)rCS(‘lllC(l as piirtienlarly wild and tcr— rible, the men being iiii.\‘od tip in :i gen- eral melee, or striving to preserve peace; the ladies, some screaming sonic terriﬁed, and others bravely seeking their friends; knives glittering, and slionts of the coin- hatniits, innde up a scene shocking to behold.

aaszannfs GAZETTE.

Saturday. August 23.336.

W: have two reasons for directing our read- ers’ attention to the advertisement of the City Council for a correct survey and plan of Char- lottetovrn ; one to show. that the Corporation is in earnest and fully determined to carry out the improvements in the streets in the best possible manner. beginning scientiﬁcally, and proceeding accordingly; the other, to call the attention of the government to this sensible move on the part of the City authorities, and endeavor to persuade them to do the same with respect to the whole Island. The necessity of providing good roads is so obvious a duty of every government as to need no roof, but it is more especially the part of t ion intrusted with the aﬂiiirs of ii country wholl dependent u ii agriculture for support. T e necessity oi” carrying the produce 0 the land either to market or to prepare it for being sent to mar- ket, and the bulliiness of produce in general, requiring correspondent exertion, cause this transportation to be a heavy tax on the farmer. Much of the produce, as pot.stoss,tui-nips, &c., destined for a foreign market, must be carried in man cases.severol miles before reaching the lace of shipment. it is therefore, of the tint importance to the farmer, that he should be provided with the greatest facilities for so

' g,—-a railway would answer his purpose best, and next to that, a ,liard. level road.

It is very problematioa whether he will ever

able to avail himself of the tlrst mode of transit, but as to being provided with the sscend,tlisrs is no diﬂen ty. if the government, (which he is continually toilin to I

. wi

Q: 6 ans 5