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Chap. II. of Monfieur Tavernier. 57 



famous Pillar, which is ft ill to be fccn. The Franks that travel to Aleppo , ufually 

 po out of their way to lee that place. That which I find moft entire, and worthy 

 obfervation among theRuincs of thofe Monafteries, is the number of arch'd Citterns 

 of Free-ftone , which time has not defac'd. 



From Shaquemin you come to dine at a Village call'd Angare , where every Travel- 

 ler isentcrtain'd for his Piafter, as at the other Stages. Between the other Villages it is 

 ten hours journey \ but between Angkre and Aleppo , but three.We alighted at the 

 French Conful's Houfe , at what time the Cuftomers came prefently to fearch our 

 Cloak-bags 5 after which we went to the Quaijfery. which is a place where all Strangers 

 are at the expence of half a Crown a day for themfelves , and a quarter fo much 

 for every Servant, and are well entertain'd. 



CHAP. II. 



The Vefcnption of Aleppo , now the Capital City of Syria. 



ALeppo is one of the moft famous Cities in all Turkic , as well for the 

 bigneis and beauty of it , as for the goodnefs of the Air, and plenty of 

 all things-, together ivith the great Trade which is driv'n there by 

 all the Nations of the World. It lyes in 7 1 Deg. 41 Min. of Longitude, 

 and 3 6 Deg. 15 Min. of Latitude, in an excellent Soil. With all the fearch that 

 I could make, I could never learn how it was anciently eall'd. Some would have 

 it to be Hicrapolis , others Be rata : and the Chriftians of the Country agree with 

 the latter. The Arabian Hiftorians that record the taking of it, call it only Aleb, 

 not mentioning any other name. Whence this Obfervation is to be made , That 

 if the Arabians call it Aleb, others Alep \ the reafon is, bec&uic the Arabians never 

 ufe the Letter T in their Language. This City was tak'n by the Arabians in the 

 fifteenth Year of the Hegyra of Mahomet, which was about the Year of CHRIST 

 6^7, in the Reign of Heraclnis Emperour of Conftantinople. 



The City is built upon four Hills, and the Caftle upon the higheft that ftands 

 in the middle of Aleppo , being fupported by Arches in ibme places , for fear the 

 Earth inould tumble and moulder away from it. The Caftle is large , and may be 

 about five or fix hundred Paces in compafs. The Walls and Towers , though built 

 of Free-ftone , are of little defence. There is but one Gate to enter into it from 

 the South , over a Draw-bridge, laid over certain Arches crofs a Moat about fix or 

 i'even Fathom deep. There is but one half of it full of Water, and that a (landing 

 Puddle to boof, the reft is a meer dry Ditch : fo that it cannot be accounted a 

 wholibm place. However there is Water brought into the Caftle through a large 

 Pipe from the Fountains in the City : and there is a ftrong Garrifon kept 

 in it. v 



The City is above three Miles in circuit, and the beft half of it is unmoated*, 

 that Moat there , is not above three Fathom deep. The Walls are very jgood, 

 and all of Free-ftone ^ with levcral fquare Towers, diftant one from the other about 

 fourfcore Paces •, between which there are others alio that are lefs. But thefe Walls 

 arc not all of them of an equal height , for in ibme places they arc not above four 

 Fathoms from the Ground. There are ten Gates to enter into the City, without 

 either Moat or Draw-Bridge •, under one of which there is a place that the Turks 

 have in great veneration } where they keep Lamps continually burning, and report 

 that 'Blijiia the Prophet liv'd for fomc time. 



There is no River that runs through Aleppo ; and but only a fmall one without 

 the City, which the Arabians call Coic. However , though indeed it be but pro- 

 perly a Rivulet, yet it is very ufeful to water the Gardens, where grows an 

 abundance of Fruit, particularly Piftaches, much bigger, and better tafted than thofe 

 that comes from the parts near Cajbin. But though there be no River , yet there 

 are More of Fountains and Receptacles of Water, which they bring from two places 

 diftant from the City. 



H The 



