lii INTRODUCTION. 



after him Mr Vernon, his fucceffor, a very excellent man, 

 to take up my refidence there- From Tripoli there is a 

 trade in kelp carried on to the fait marines near Palmyra. 

 The Shekh of Cariateen, a town juft upon the edge of the 

 defert, had a contract with the bafha of Tripoli for a quan- 

 tity of this herb for the ufe of the foap works. I loft no 

 time in making a friendfhip with this man, but his return 

 amounted to no more than to endeavour to lead me rafhly 

 into real danger, where he knew he had not confequence 

 enough to give me a moment's protection. 



There are two tribes almoft equally powerful who inha- 

 bit the deferts round Palmyra ; the one is the Annecy, re- 

 markable for the fineft breed of horfes in the world ; the 

 other is the Mowalli, much better foldiers, but fewer in 

 number, and very little inferior in the excellence of their 

 horfes. The Annecy pofTefs the country towards the S. W. 

 at the back of Libanus, about Bozradown the Hawran, and 

 fouthward towards the borders of Arabia Petrea and Mount 

 Horeb. The Mowalli inhabit the plains eaft of Damafcus 

 to the Euphrates, and north to near Aleppo. 



These two tribes were not at war, nor were they at peace ; 

 they were upon what is called ill-terms with each other, 

 which is the moft dangerous time for ftrangers to have any 

 dealings with either. I learned this as a certainty from a 

 friend at HaHia* where a Shekh lives, to whom I was re- 

 commended by a letter, as a friend of the bafha of Damaf- 

 cus. This man maintains his influence, not by a number 

 of forces, but by conftantiy marrying a relation of one or 

 both of thefe tribes of Arabs, who for that reafon aflift him 

 in maintaining the fecurity of his road, and he has the care 

 i of 



