382 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
foliage, of various form and charader, but of the moft lively- 
verdure, and flowers of the moft diverfified 'hues and the 
ftrongeft odours, alleviated the tafk of climbing by rugged and 
difficult paths the fteep afcent of the mountain, and torrents 
wandering through the valleys in their ftoney channels, or 
daflied from the rocks in fheets of foam, filled the ear with 
their foothing murmurs, the eye with their untaught meanders, 
and the imagination with fome of the moft agreeable images 
that delight in the works of the poet. 
The third day was occupied in traverfing a country romantic 
like the former, and we pafTed the night in the open air, at 
Shawr^ where the river Orontes winds majeftically through the 
plain. The town of Shawr is populous, and has a good cara- 
vanferai ; but we preferred the open air, to avoid the vermin 
which lodge in fuch places. Adjacent is a good ftone bridge 
of feven arches. Thefe conveniences have been originally 
provided for the caravan, which refts here in its route from 
Conftantinople to Mecca. 
On the fifth day arrived at Keftin, a village remarkable foF 
its pigeon-houfes, which fupply the adjacent country, even to 
Aleppo. The neighbouring lands abound in wheat and barley, 
fown in ridges ; the foil is rich, and requires no farrow. The 
women here go unveiled, and at Martrawan^ which is not far 
removed, are by their friends prefented to ftrangers. 
The people are termed Anfarie in Arabic, a fe£t of pre- 
tended Mohammedans, who are faid to worfhip the pudendum 
muliebre. 
