Iviii INTRODUCTION. 



Before our departure from Palmyra I obferved its lati- 

 tude with a Hadley's quadrant from reflection. The in- 

 ftrument had probably warped in carriage, as the index 

 went unpleafantly, and as it were by ftarts, fo that I will not 

 pretend to give this for an exacl: obfervation ; yet, after all 

 the care I could take, I only apprehended that 33° 58' for the 

 latitude of Palmyra, would be nearer the truth than any other. 

 Again, that the diftance from the coaft in a ftraight line 

 being 1 60 miles, and that remarkable mountainous cape on 

 the coaft of Syria, between Byblus and Tripoli, known by the 

 name of Theoprofopon, being nearly due weft, or under the 

 fame parallel with Palmyra, I conceive the longitude of 

 that city to be nearly 37 9' from the obfervatory of Green- 

 wich. 



From Palmyra I proceeded to Baalbec, diftant about 130 

 miles, and arrived the fame day that Emir Youfef had 

 reduced the town and fettled the government, and was de- 

 camping from it on his return home. This was the 

 luckieft moment poffible for me, as I was the Emir's friend, 

 and I obtained liberty to do there what I pleafed, and to 

 this indulgence was added the great convenience of the 

 Emir's ab fence, fo that I was not troubled by the obfervance 

 of any court- ceremony or attendance, or teazed with im- 

 pertinent queftions. 



Baalbec is plcafantly fituated in a plain on the weft of 

 And Libanus, is finely watered, and abounds in gar- 

 dens. It is about fifty miles from HaiTia, and about thirty 

 from the neareft fea-coaft, which is the fituation of the an- 

 cient Byblus. The interior of the great temple of Baalbec, 

 fuppofed to be that of the fun, furpafles any thing at Pal- 



myra fc 



