MEMOIR OF BURCKHARDT. 63 



From the town of Szalt, which stands on the de- 

 clivity of the mountain, crowned by the castle, 

 there is a fine view over the Ghor ; Rieha, or Jeri- 

 cho, is visible at a great distance to the southward ; 

 and in the neighbouring valley of Mezer Osha, tra- 

 dition points out the tomb of the Prophet Hosea, 

 which is in the form of a coffin, thirty-six feet 

 long, three broad, and three and a half in height. 

 Both Turks and Christians are in the habit of offer- 

 ing prayers and sacrifices in honour of the saint. 

 Visitors generally drop a few paras, which are col- 

 lected by the guardian ostensibly for defraying the 

 expense of illuminating the vaulted building which 

 contains the tomb, and also serves as a mosque. 



At the distance of about twenty miles to the 

 eastward are the ruin? of Ammon, situate in a 

 valley on both sides of a rivulet that empties itself 

 into the Zerka. The most remarkable of these is a 

 large amphitheatre, which is much decayed, and 

 much inferior to that of Dj crash. Many edifices, 

 such as churches, temples, columns, arched bridges, 

 &c., still remain to attest the former splendour of 

 Ammon ; amongst which is the castle, whose walls 

 of immense thickness consist of huge blocks of 

 stones piled up without cement, denoting a very 



i remote antiquity. Having with some difficulty 

 procured a guide, Burckhardt continued his route, 



' and in ten days and a half arrived at Kerek, pass- 

 ing in course of his journey various places men- 

 tioned in the Old Testament, Heshbon, Baalmeon, 

 Medala, Kirjathaim, Mount Nebo, the Plains of 



