396 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
men on horfeback ; twelve horfes, (a Pafha of two tails has: Only- 
fix,) richly caparifoned, and each bearing a filver target and a 
fabre ; fix led dromedaries, in beautiful houfings ; numbers of 
the chief perfons of the city followed, among whom were the 
Aga of the Janizaries, the governor of the caftle, and the Mo- 
haffel. Laft came the Pafha himfelf, in a habit of green cloth 
adorned with fur of the black fox, preceded by his two fons, the 
eldeft about fourteen, all mounted on the moft fpirlted fteeds of 
Arabia, and followed by his houfehold troops, to the number of 
four hundred, well armed and mounted. More than a hun- 
dred camels had preceded the reft, bearing the tents and bag- 
gage of the Pafha. The whole was conducted without any 
noife or tumult, to the great credit of the Damafcene mob, 
who had been waiting feveral hours without their ufual repaft. 
Damafcus has been often defcribed ; but a refidence of about 
two months may enable me to fuggeft fome particulars worthy 
of notice. The walls are of a circular form, fuburbs large and 
irregular. The fituation is in an extenfive plain, filled with gar- 
dens, to the length of more than three leagues, and the breadth 
of more than a league and a half. At no great diftance to the 
Eaft, rifes a ridge of Anti-Libanus. The river Barade is above 
the city divided into many ftreams, which are diftributed through 
the gardens j fo that there is a fupply for all. The air is ex- 
cellent, the foil exuberant in fertility. Fruits more abundant 
than I have ever feen, particularly the grapes and apricots, 
which are of excellent flavour. 
Near 
