Chapter 43 Summary

Baalbek has a history that goes back thousands of years. The pilgrims reach the ruins and wonder at its mysterious past. The Temple of the Sun and the Temple of Jupiter, along with a number of other temples are amazing to look at. Mark Twain cannot imagine the builders carrying all the heavy stones on their backs and piling them so neatly at such a height. The men went down to the quarry where a huge square stone had been left behind, waiting to be brought to the temple. Twain scoffs at the little flimsy bricks that men build with today.

There is a disagreement among the men. The next destination is Damascus, which is a reasonable a three-day trip. Unfortunately, three of the men will not travel on the Sabbath, so the trip must be made in two. Twain and the other...