MASONIC EMBLEMS. 



227 



I is% t£ <1 *v An/ aK xl/ ^ 



The entrance to the khan is a magnificent 

 gateway of Saracenic architecture, highly orna- 

 mented, and in part constructed of white marble. 

 The marble slabs bore inscriptions, probably sen- 

 tences from the koran. Within is a great court, 

 surrounded by lofty vaulted cloisters, now partly 

 in ruins ; here we lodged, lighting our fire under 

 the arches, and picketing our horses in the 

 open quadrangle. The lodging was snug enough, 

 but had the disadvantage of having been made 

 the camp of a mighty army of fleas, who forth- 

 with, regarding us as natural enemies, proceeded 

 to the attack; and although each of the party 

 slew literally hundreds, entangled in our blankets, 

 their numbers did not seem in the least dimi- 

 nished by the morning. During the night they 

 made incessant endeavours to destroy us, and we 



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