Vol. III. MifcelUnea Curiofa. 141 



ed at, we would not prolong our Stage lb 

 much as to turn out of the Road, to fee 

 more of it : So preffing ftill forwards, we 

 had hardly proceeded four Hours, when wc 

 came to the brow of a Rocky Mountain, fe- 

 parated from that whereon ftands the Caftle 

 of Tadmor^ but by a narrow Valley : In which 

 Hill, by the Way, appeared fome Quarries 

 of fine Stone, which probably might afford 

 Materials- to the curious Buildings in the 

 City. Our Guide here (according to his ac- 

 cuftomed Diligence) advanced fbme few Pa- 

 ces before us, and having efpied three or 

 four Country-Fellows driving AfTes towards 

 us, he caufed us to make halt, to give them 

 an opportunity to come nearer to us, refolv- 

 ing to fpeak with them, to know whether 

 the Coaft was clear, or if any of the Moun- 

 tain Arabs were then at Tadmor^ or not. 

 After a little fpace, with our Arms in our 

 Hands, we marched in as good order as the 

 Way would permit, down a rocky and fteep 

 Precipice, into the Valley, and our Guide 

 making greater fpeed than we could, gal- 

 lop'd after the poor affrighted Country Fel- 

 lows ; who feeing fuch a Company unexpeft- 

 edly defcend the Hill, left their Afles, and 

 fled towards the City with all poffible fpeed : 

 But they were foon overtaken, and brought 

 back again to us ^ to whom they related the 

 good News, that there was no Force at all 

 in Tadmor^ and that we might proceed with 

 Courage, and fee what we would there with 

 all fafety : Which News obtained them their 

 Liberty to go again to their AfTes, and we 

 continued in our Way, 



Ha- 



