158 M E M O 1 R S of fbe 
of tamarifk, mulberry, and other trees to pafs thro'; here every 
thing looked frcfh and verdant ; they had alto a fine profpe6t of 
the oppofite fliore, and they could lee a great way into AJefopo- 
rami a. 
Ouiober 13, they had the fame profpe<5t as they had the pre- 
ceeding day, travelling as near the river as the road would per- 
mit J and having made a ftage of about 6 hours, they relied un- 
der the fhade of the- tamarillc-trees by the river fide. In their 
way they law the ruins of a city, called Saidus, where the 
ffurks had formerly a Sangiac ; but now there is neither inhabit 
tant m the place, nor houfe Handing, but the ruins of houfes, 
and ano6lagonal tower of a confiderable height; viz. loj Reps, 
and beautified on the outfide with flourifhes, and an j4rabic in- 
icription round about ; it is a handfome ftrudlure, and probably 
the work of the Mamalukes, fince whofe time little has been 
done to adorn, but a great deal to deflroy and waiie this 
country. Afier dinner they let out fooner than ordinary, hop- 
ing to reach the tents of Ajjyne., before it was late, but it was 
fun-let befcrc they got to Fay\ a fountain by vvhich he lay; 
they had travelled llill on the fame point; vi^. N. W. with 
the' prripeil of the river for the greater part of the way. King 
Jljjyrie^ rents covered a large plain, and took up lb vaft a fpace, 
that from a rifing ground the utmoft. extent of them could not be 
feen; the king's tent was nearly in the middle, the reft pitched 
about It, n "t in a circular manner, but extending in length as the 
plain opened; or, for the better conveniency of a currrent of 
water, which from the fountain ran thro' the middle of the tents; 
it was not at all diftinguifhable from the reft, but by its bignels, 
being all made of hair-cloth. It cannot well be doubted, that 
they are defcended from the old Arabes Scenit(f^ living juft in 
the fame manner, and having no fettled abode, but removing 
from fountain to fountain, as they find grafs and water for their 
flif cp and camels ; they affeft to derive themielvcs from Jpmael^ 
the ion of Abraloam. As loon as the merchants alighted they 
were attended by tlic ofificers of the Emir, and condutSled to a 
very noble tent, built after the 'Turkijh mode, and pitched next 
to his cwn ; before fupper the king himfelf made them a vifit m 
pcrfon, bidding them welcome to Fay, and alking what they 
had iccn in their travels; how they liked 'Tadmor, and whether 
rhcy had found a treafure there? For theie people entertain a 
notion, that xV.^ Franks ^o to fee old ruins, becauie they there 
meet with infcriptions, which dire6t them to fomc hidden trea- 
fure 3 and therefore it is no unufual thing with them, when they 
find 
