TOL, XIX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 51 



aqueduct, which runs under ground in a direct passage 5 miles, and is covered 

 with an arch of bastard marble all the way, and a path on both sides the 

 channel for two persons to walk, abreast ; the channel itself being about an 

 English yard in breadth, and 4- of a yard in depth. At 20 yards distance 

 all the way are ventiducts for the air to pass, and the holes are surrounded 

 with small mounts of earth to keep the sand and dust from falling down. 

 We marched close by these mounts, which might serve us for defence, ex- 

 pecting every moment that the Arabs would come to assail us, having the 

 disadvantage of sun and wind in our faces: we therefore travelled hard to gain 

 an eminence, where we might post ourselves advantageously, and stop and 

 repose a little, to consider what was best to do. The Arabs finding us come 

 on with this order and resolution, thought it not fit to attack, us: so we gained 

 the hill, from whence we might discern these vast and noble ruins, having a 

 plain like a sea for extent to the southward of it. Here having refreshed our 

 men, we fetched a small compass, and descended by the foot of a mountain, on 

 which stands a great castle, but uninhabited. Here two Arabs came to us with 

 lances, one being Chiah to Melkam ; and we sent two to meet them. They told 

 us the Emir had understood of our coming, and had sent them to acquaint us 

 that he was our friend, and that all the country was ours. W^e sent back, with 

 them our janizary and a servant to visit the prince in his tents, which were in 

 a garden. In the mean time we dismounted at a watering place among the 

 ruins, but did not unload till our janizary and servant returned with the Emir's 

 Tescarr, assuring us of friendship and protection, a writing which the Arabs 

 were never known to violate before. With them came also one that belonged 

 to the Sheck of the town, for whom we had letters from UsefFe Aga, the 

 Emeen of Aleppo. He desired us for greater security to pitch our tents under 

 the town walls, in the ruins of a large palace, the walls still standing very high, 

 the town within being but small, and the houses, excepting two or three, no 

 better than hog-sties. So we pitched in a deep sandy ground, where we 

 found it exceedingly hot. Here we waited till 3 o'clock without eating any 

 thing, expecting the Sheck should have made us presents, according to the 

 usual custom of the Turks to their friends, and have given some answer to 

 the letters we brought him ; but on the contrary we found by the gestures 

 of the people, that we had reason to suspect them. Upon this, two of our 

 company, believing that the want of a present to the Emir was the cause 

 thereof, resolved to adventure to give him a visit, and taking the janizary and 

 one servant, they carried him a present of two pieces of red cloth, and four of 

 green, and several other things: being come, he welcomed them into his tent, 

 and placed the one on his right hand and the other on his left. Melkam was a 



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