142 Mifcelianea Curiofd. Vol. IIL 



, Having tired our felves with roving front 

 kuin to Ruin, and romaging among old 

 Stones-^ from which little Knowledge could 

 be obtained ; and more efpecially not think- 

 ing it fafe to linger too long in a Place, where 

 Ihould the Mountain Arabs (who were Ene- 

 mies to jijfyne Abajfe^ our Friend) have In- 

 telligence of us, they might either fall upon 

 or endeavour to intercept us in our return , 

 (for which reafon alfo we had all along con- 

 cealed our intended Courfe, under a pre- 

 tence of proceeding forward to Damafcm.) 

 On Thurfday^ OBoher 8. about half an Hour 

 after four in the Morning, we departed from 

 Tadmor^ being very well fatisfied with what 

 we had feen, and glad to have efcaped fo 

 dreaded a Place, without any Trouble or 

 Pretences upon us ^ but elfe with fome Re- 

 gret, for having left a great many things be- 

 hind, which deferved a moi'e particular and 

 curious Infpeclion. Our Road lay almoll due 

 Eaft, or a little enclining to the North ^ and 

 on the left Hand, a ridge of Hills ftretched a- 

 long for a great fpace, fometimes about half 

 anHourdiftant from the Road, and fom.etimes 

 opening wider : Thefe Hills, we were told, 

 were ftored with rich Veins of divers Mine- 

 rals, and afforded all that vail quantity of 

 Marble, the Remains whereof we had feen 

 at Tadmor 'y and it was from a Fountain call'd 

 Ahulfarras^ at the foot of one of them, they 

 fetch out Water, which we drank there ^ 

 the Inhabitants contenting themfelves with 

 that which runs from the Hot Springs. To 

 the right Hand lay a vaft barren Plain, per- 

 fectly bare, and hardly any thing green to be 



