EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 377 
interfperfed among the numerous fruit-trees, (efpecially olives 
and figs,) which this fertile foil fupports, give the whole a 
picturefque and beautiful appearance. 
jO'.i 
Moft of thefe gardens belonged to Chriftians, till the Pallia, 
by his exorbitant demands, obliged them to fell their pofTeffions. 
Here it may be obferved, that Chriftians may hold land in this 
place, which is not permitted at Acre. The ftreets of the city, 
like the others in this part of the world, are narrow and 
irregular. 
The high tower, which Maundrel mentions as ftandinsr 
North-eaft of the city, was firft deftroyed by Jezzar, as he 
thought an enemy might ufe it in offence ; but he afterwards 
rebuilt it, with fmaller ftones and in a lefs fubftantial manner, 
as a piace-d'armes for his own foldiers. 
European veffels, in the fummer, anchor near a fmall point 
of land which runs into the fea before the city, and is called 
Beirut Point j but in the winter, they caft anchor to the North, 
in a kind of gulf, which is fheltered from the North and Eaft 
wind by the mountain, and is faid to be very fecure. The 
ftaple commodity of the country is raw filk, which is carried 
to Kahira, Damafcus, and Aleppo, and part of it to Europe. 
They alfo fabricate a kind of jars and jugs in earthen ware, 
which, from the peculiar nature of the clay in the adjacent 
country, are highly efteemed, and carried to all parts of the 
coaft. 
Provi 
