676 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [Oct. 



in the second, against the system of subterfuge carried on by the Syrian Govern- 

 ment towards the expedition ; and its commander visitgd Imiahim Pacha at 

 Tripoli, in the hope of persuading liim to give, at least for a time, that assistance 

 which had been promised unreservedly by the Viceroy himself. 



The connexion between the George Canning and the shore having been 

 established by means of an hawser extending from the ship across the bar of 

 the Orontes, a distance of 1200 yards, parties were sent on shore from the 

 Columbine and George Canning with tents for their accommodation, and the 

 disembarkation was carried on with such spirit and activity, that the site 

 designated as " Amelia Depot" soon became a little camp with a very mixed 

 aspect, replete with bustle and useful occupation. The bar at the mouth of the 

 river was at times dangerous, and on one occasion Commander Henderson with 

 his boat's crew narrowly escaped a watery grave. 



The observatory being now fixed, Lieutenant Murphy applied himself to as- 

 tronomical observations, more especially with the fine transit instrument that had 

 come out with the Expedition. Tiie survey was soon afterwards began tinder 

 Lieutenant Murphy, Mr. Thomson, and Mr. Stknhouse, (who was sent by 

 the Admiral) at Lattaquia (Laodicea), but was limited to a determination of the 

 outline of the coast with its soundings, and an examination of the coast itself. 

 Mr. Ainsworth also accompanied the party for purposes of natural history. 

 The sites of Heracleum and Possidium were recognized. On their return an 

 excursion was made to the summit of Pliny's wonder, Mount Cassius or Gebel. 

 The succession of the various forms of vegetation was noted. The party bivouack- 

 ed near the summit, on which, April 28th, there still remained some patches of 

 snow. The results given by tlie Barometer, which was observed at various 

 heights, compared with a register kept at the same time by Mr. Eden in 

 the Depot, coincided closely with those obtained tiigonometrically by Mr. 

 Murphy, and which gave for the elevation above the sea 5318 feet. But 

 this mountain, notwithstanding its great height, is entirely composed of supra- 

 cretaceous limestones, characterized by cones and cerithii. At its north-eastern 

 foot is an extensive deposit of highly crystalline gypsum, and to the south- 

 east diallage rocks and serpentines break through the same formations, 

 accompanied by lacustrine mailesand siliceous limestones. 



On the 29th of April, a party consisting of Lieutenant Mui-phy, Mr. Ains- 

 worth, and Mr. Thomson, left the Orontes in a country boat to commence the 

 survey of the Gulph of Scanderoon and its neighbouring shores. The first points 

 visited were Arsons and Rhosas. An ascent was then made to Gebel Kaiseria, 

 on which they bivouacked. Next came Scandernoon, and in its neighbourhood 

 Jacob's Well, the site of Mgriundros ; to the south, the pass of Bylan, gates of 

 Syria (Ptolemy), Amanian Gates (Strabo), a defile in the mountains separating 

 the Arnanus from the Rhosas, and leading from Myriandros into the plan of 

 Antioch or Umk. 



To the north the remains of a marble gate way, commonly called Jonas' 

 Pillars, (Cilicia Gates of Ptolemy, Q. Curtius and Arrian :) this was 

 the midnight halt of Alexander. The description of Zenopbon refers to a 

 narrow place contiguous to the sea ; that of Arrian to the ascent of the hills 

 that shut up the same plain contiguous to the sea. The latter applies itself 

 distinctly to these ruins. Half a mile north of the Cilician Gates, is the river 

 Markotsaye (Kersus), and beyond a wall terminating in the sea" with a tower. 

 At the foot of the mountains, the Kersus passes between two walls near the 

 village of Merkets. This is the wall and gates of Zenothon. They are built 

 of stone. Farther north is Eyas (Baias Anton. Itiner. Myrcandros of Williams' 

 Geography of ancient Asia) and there are several populous villages between Byas 

 and the Issus (Pinarus). At a subsequent period, in company with Colonel 

 Chesnhy, this river was examined in detail, as also the ruins of a considerable 

 town near some hills which enclosed the Issic plain to the north-west — the 

 Giaour Dagh, or Amanvs, being the east pass of Darius, Armenian Gates of Ar- 

 rian ; the whole corresponding closely with the last mentioned author's de- 

 scription. Where the gulph runs to the west, there are ruins of forts, castles and 

 gateways. From thence proceeding north-west by Kurd Kulac (Wolf's ears) 

 (Jordequiea of D'Anville and Rennell) to Missis (MesisJ at a pass through 



