374 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
travelling through a rugged road, continually afcending, till we 
reached the convent of Mochaulus^ delightfully fituated half 
way up the mountain, in a romantic country. On pafling a 
bridge over Nahr-el-aweli^ obferved feveral fine falls of the 
ftream. In Kefrawan is alfo Mujh-Mujhe^ a convent of Maro- 
nites, which we reached next morning, after three hours riding; 
Tlie mountains in the neighbourhood are covered with fir 
trees, fome of them of large growth. The vales, and part of 
the mountains, are planted with vines, producing excellent wine, 
white and red. There are alfo many mulberry trees, which 
furnifli plenty of good filk, but the natives have not the com- 
mon fkill to form it into thread. Corn and lentils alfo abound. 
The botanift and florlft may find in this part of the mountain 
full employment, as it is covered with innumerable herbs and 
fhrubs, many of them odoriferous, and adorned with flowers of 
various tints. Myrtle and lavender grow wild in great quanti- 
ties on the mountain, and the rofe of Jericho embellifhes the 
vales and banks of the rivulets. From this convent are feen 
Seide, the fea and the adjacent coaft. 
As Kefrawan and Mount Libanus produce the beft wines of 
Syria, it may not be improper to offer a few remarks on that 
topic. The white wine made at Jerufalera has a fulphureous 
tafte, and is very ftrong ; the red fomewhat refembles Tent, and 
is comparatively mild in its effects. The wines of Syria are 
moft of them prepared by boiling, immediately after they are 
expreffed from the grape, till they be confiderably reduced in 
quantity, when they are put into jars or large glafs bottles, 
{damesjans^) and preferved for ufe. 
There 
