OVER THE GREAT DESART. 419 



feet square, though it appears to have been much 

 higher, it is still considerably more lofty than the 

 other buildings : the stairs by which this was ascend- 

 ed appear perfect from about twelve feet above the 

 ground ; what were lower, now a heap of rubbish ; 

 there does not remain the appearance of any commu- 

 nication between this and the other buildings; all 

 the interjacent ground is level, and now verdant; no 

 stream or well appears nearer than the well we stopt 

 at yesterday, about six hours from hence. If this 

 district could be supplied with water, it would be 

 rich indeed; for several miles onward we thought we 

 discovered the remains of trenches or cuts for the 

 conducting of water over the plain. The Arabs 

 were entirely ignorant respecting these extraordinary 

 buildings ; when, or by whom erected, or when de- 

 stroyed. The Shaikh hurried us away, very much 

 dissatisfied that we had lost so much time; he swears 

 he never will come near it again : the distance from 

 Aleppo is six days easy journey. The Shaikh says that 

 we are now about forty miles from Palmyra, which is 

 on our right, and about fifty from the Euphrates % on 

 our left. No person at Aleppo gave me any hint of 

 such a place. The gentlemen of our factory at Rus- 

 ' had never heard of it. 



Ec2 XXX. 



