392 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
the Orontes, I paffed the night with a hofpitable native, in 
a garden of mulberries, which afforded fupport to his numerous 
family. 
A large gate of Seleucia yet remains entire ; It approaches to 
the Doric order. The rock near it has been excavated into va- 
rious apartments. A part exifts of the thick and fubftantial wall 
which defended Seleucia toward the fea. The port muft have 
been commodious and fecure, though but fmall, being formed 
by a mole of very large ftones. Though the port be at .pre- 
fent dry, the fand in the bottom appears not higher than the 
furface of the fea. A little to the North is a remarkable paf- 
fage, cut in the rock, leading by a gentle defcent, from the 
fummit of the mountain towards the water. It Is above fix 
hundred common paces long, from thirty to fifty feet high, and 
about twenty broad. In the middle of it is a covered way, 
arched through the rock, but both the ends are open. A chan- 
nel for water runs along the fide, conveying the pure element 
down from the mountain to Seleucia. The whole rock above 
is full of artificial cavities, for what purpofe does not appear. 
There is a Greek infcription on the South fide of the cavern, 
comprifing, I believe, five lines. Having no glafs, and the in- 
fcription being lofty, I could only difcover the letters TETAP, 
which form a part of the lafl: line but one. 
Returning towards the fea, I obferved fome catacombs. One 
of the chambers contains thirty niches for the dead, another 
fourteen. Thefe catacombs are ornamented with pilafters, cor- 
nices, and mouldings. 
Returned 
