in Syria^ Phoenice ^c. ^y^ 



Bottom, in large Hemifpheres ; which, as foon as they touch 

 the Surface and fo are a6ted upon by the external Air, burft, 

 at once, with a great Smoke and Noife, like the Tuhis fulmi- 

 nans of the Chymifts, and difperfe themfelves round about in 

 a thoufand Pieces. But this happens only near the Shore ; for, 

 in greater Depths, the Eruptions are fuppofed to difcover them- 

 felves only in fuch Columns of Smoke, as are now and then 

 obferved to arife from the Lake. And perhaps to fuch Eruptions 

 asthefe, we may attribute that Variety of Pits and Hollows- 

 which are found in the Neighbourhood of this Lake, and com- 

 pared very juftly by Mr. Mmindrell to thofe Places in England, 

 where there have been formerly Lime Kilns. The Bitumen^ 

 in all Probability, is accompanied from the Bottom, with Sul- 

 phur, inafmuch as both of them are found promifcuoufly upon 

 the Wafli of the Shore. The latter is exadtly the fame \N'ixhf! ^"''"^ "^ 

 common native Sulphur ; the former is friable, heavier than 

 Water, yielding, upon Frid:ion or by being fet on Fire, a 

 faetid Smell. Neither doth it appear to be, as Diofcorides def- 

 cribeth his yijphaltus \ of a purplifh Colour, but is as black as 

 Jet, and exadlly of the fame Ihining Appearance. 



Game of all Kind, fuch as Partridge, Francoleens, Wood- Uefe coun- 

 cocks. Snipes, Teal, &c. Hares, Rabbits, Jackalls, Antilopes, S ^J/J >t. 

 &c. are in great Plenty all over This Country. The Method ''^^''"''' 

 made ufe of by the Inhabitants to take them, is either by 

 Courfing or Hawking. For which Purpofe, whenever the Turks 

 and ^r^^j of better Fafliion travel or go out for Diverfion, they 

 are always attended with half a Dozen Hawks, and the like 

 Number of Gray Hounds. The latter are ufually Ihagged and 

 much larger than thofe o{England\ but the Hawks are for the 

 moft Part, of the fame Size and Qu_ality with our Gofs-Hawks, 

 being fufficiently ftrong to pin down a Buftard and flop an 

 Ant'tlofe in full Career. They perform the latter of thefe 

 Adtions, by firft feizing the Animal by the Head, and then mak- 

 ing a continued fluttering with their Wings, 'till they are 

 relieved by the Gray Hounds. 



But the only curious Animals that I had the good Fortune rz^fSkinkore. 

 to fee, were the Skinkore, and thQ 'Daman IJrael \ both of 



(iihoA-.a >m\u7mJ^i patiKn. DiofcorU. 1. i. cap. 100. 



Bbbbb2 r which 



