4o8 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
enmity. The pious antipathy between the Greeks and Catholics 
reigns here in all its fury. 
After a journey of two days, through a rugged route along 
the ridge of the mountain, arrived at the convent of St. John, 
where the printing-office is. Paper being dear, and no demand 
for books, the prefs is flopped. Arabic books alone were 
edited. 
On my return by Zibdatte obferved there a gate of Grecian 
architediure. PafTed through a rich vale, watered by the 
Barade^ formerly the Chryforrhoas, to Damafcus. 
So numerous are the fruit-trees in the vicinity of this city, 
that thofe which die and are cut down, fupply it with abundant 
lire-wood. They are alfo ufed for building, together with the 
the walnut-tree and Lombardy poplar. The houfes in Damaf- 
cus are remarkably large and commodious, and well fupplied 
with water ; of many the furniture is worth from one to 
five hundred purfes, or from five thoufand to twenty-five 
ihoufand pounds, in divans or large fophas, of the richeft filk, 
embroidered with pearl, Perfian carpets, mirrors, &c. 
• 
The melingana^ a fpecies of the folanum, is confumed here 
in fuch quantities as a common vegetable, that fifty hundred 
weight is eftimated the daily fupply of the city. 
Returned from Damafcus to Aleppo, 7th October 1 797, a 
journey of twelve days. Almoft every town or village on the 
route 
