WHERE EAST MEETS WEST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 68, 22 March 1939, Page 3

WHERE EAST MEETS WEST

Syria: Homeland of a Race That Has Seen Many Conquerors Come and Go

gYRIA, the homeland of the Syrians, has been a source of anxiety to French statesmen since the League of Nations gave France a mandate over that territory. Like the Arabs in Iraq, the Syrians are anxious to obtain independence, and the Government resigned office recently as a protest against action by the French Government that was considered in Syria to run counter to local autonomy. The unrest in Syria has synchronised with that in Palestine, and Great Britain is as desirous as France to see some solution of the difficulties in Asia Minor. The territory of Syria is a narrow strip of land 400 by 150 miles, extending from the Taurus range and the Euphrates in the north to the Sinaitic Peninsula in the south, hemmed in between the Mediterranean Sea on the west and the Syrian desert on the east. The topography of the land presents a highly complicated variety of plains, valleys and mountains. It occupies a strategic position on the map of the old world, and is the connecting link between Europe, Asia and Africa. Syria has a unique record in the annals of the world. Situated as it is between the three historic continents, it provided the ancient, and to a large extent the mediaeval, world with its battlefields in time of war and market place in time of peace. The Syrians are neither Turks nor Arabs (as some Syrians imagine themselves to be). Having lived under the suzerainty of Turkey for the past four centuries the Syrian immigrant is generally (but erroneously) considered to be a Turk. The Syrians spoke Armaic during the greater part of their history. Their adoption of the Arabic tongue is comparatively a recent event considered alongside her ancient heritage. Neither are the Syrians Assyrians, the latter domiciled in certain regions of Mesopotamia, Kurdistan and Northern Persia. Ancient Tribes Who then are the Syrians? They are the remnant of the ancient PhoenicianCanaanite tribe, who entered Syria about 2500 8.C.; the Armean Israelite hordes, who arrived about 1500 8.C., and the Arabs, who have drifted (and still drift) from the desert and gradually pass from a nomadic to an agricultural state. With this Semitic stock as a substratum the Syrians are a highly mixed race, of whom some rightly trace their origin back to the Greek settlers and colonists of the Seleucidae period—“Selucia an ancient city on the Tigris founded by Seleucus, King of Syria between 302 and 312 8.C.” And some rightly trace their ancestry to the Frankish and other European Crusaders. Although Syria has been in her long history repeatedly invaded by conquering hordes she was never completely subdued, the Mohammedans and even Alexander the Great halting at the rocky fastnesses of Lebanon. In later days she became a pawn in European quarrels. The Great War readjusted this condition, the Treaty of Versailles giving England the mandate over Mesopotamia and Palestine to protect the road to India, and France receiving the protectorate of Syria. Under the French mandate Syria now consists of two republics, Syria proper with Damascus, capital, and Mount Lebanon, whose capital, Barrouth, is the seat of the French commissioner, and an intellectual centre famed for its univercity conducted by the Jesuits. Syria is the birthplace of two monotheistic religions, viz., Judaism and Christianity, and is also closely related to the third religion—Mohmammedanism. The eye of the Christian, the

Jew or the Mohammedan, wherever they may be, is turned to some place in Syria for religious devotion and inspiration, and the foot is directed towards it for pilgrimage. To quote the words of Sir George Adam Smith, British Orientalist and foremost of Biblical scholars, “This country (Syria) has been of greater significance to mankind spiritually and materially than any other country in the world.” Owing to repeated invasions and settlements the Mohammedans outnumber the Christian Syrians by four to one. There are a few Kurds, a scattering of Jews and Arabs, who come and go in their nomadic way. There is a movement for complete independence among Mohammedans, but the Christians, for very good religious reasons prefer the status quo. Grace of Manner. David George Hogarth, the eminent English archaeologist, in his book, "The Nearer East,” states his estimate of Syrian intelligence thus: "There is no more enterprising, no keener intellect in the Nearer East than the Syrian of the fringe. Though uneducated (in the majority) because of lack of opportunity, the Syrians could not be said to be unintelligent or uncultural. Their everyday language is rich in proverbs and wise it overflows with pious phrases. Their grace of manner, courtesy and hospitality which in their case has been developed to the point of an art, add charm and picturesquesness to their simple life. By their everyday talk and conversation one can almost judge the manner of a race. A Syrian welcomes with ‘Ahlan Wasahlan,” which means, you are visiting true friendsWhen he offers coffee or sweets he says, ‘Tafaddal,’ which means, be kind and accept. When a visitor leaves, a Syrian says, ‘Sharraft,’ which means you have honoured us; the visitor replies, I, too, have been honoured. The morning greeting is, blessed morning; noon greeting, God is with you. to which one replies, God be with you and keep you. The evening greeting is, a happy evening, and for reply, happy and blessed.” A number of educated Syrians hold positions of eminence and responsibility in Egypt, the Sudan, and other regions of the Near East. It was in praise of the above Syrians that prompted Lord Cromer (then British Consul General at Cairo, and one of the makers of modern Egypt) to write in his book, “Modern Egypt,” a pro--1 nouncement of the Syrians as: “Th® | intellectual cream of the Near East." I Dr. Leary, in his book, “Syria, th® I Land of Lebanon,” page 25, says: "In brief with all his faults—which we of the West are apt to over emphasise—because they are not the same as our faults. The Syrian is frugal, temperate. ambitious, adaptable, intellectually brilliant, capable of infinite self-sacri-fice for any great end, essentially religious, generally hospitable, courteous in social intercourse, and to his loved ones extremely affectionate and faithful. A people organised socially along the same general plan as the Syrians would naturally have their supreme virtues expressed in terms of family life. Among the Syrians the sanctity of womanhood and the inviolability of home life are held supreme. The virginity of a girl is as sacred to them as their faith and church, and a violation of this is held highly criminal both by the churches and the State. The violator has often been punished by the girl’s people with death, that is why crimes of this nature are rarely committed. Syrians marry at an early age and divorce (among Christians) if almost unknown.”