EGYPT, AND SYRIiL 411 
Greek. It has a fortrefs and a garrifon of Janizaries. Here 
the Turkifh language firft becomes general. The chief com- 
merce is leather and raw hides ; {kins of goats are dyed red 
and yellow, into what is called Turkey leather. The houfes arc 
built of ftone, which is very cheap ; there are five principal 
mofques ; through fome of the ftreets devolve ft reams of water, 
and the air is falubrious. On the South fide is a large burying 
ground, whigh at a diftance feems an extenfive fuburb. On the 
North is the caftle, apparently coeval with that of Aleppo, built 
on an artificial elevation. The city however is entirely com- 
manded from the adjacent hills. It is governed by a Mitfellim^ 
appointed by the executive power at Conftantinople. The Ja- 
nizaries and Sherifs are here as riotous as at Aleppo. Staple 
commodities are, the leather above mentioned, cottons for their 
own ufe, and various- coloured woollens, of which jackets are 
made, and fent to other parts. It alfo produces dlps^ a confec- 
tion made of the grounds of wine and almonds. 
After travelling for feveral days, afcended Mount Taurus, now 
called Kurun. The afcent and defcent occupied three days. 
This is a chain of high rocky mountains, running from Eaft to 
Wefl, the inhabitants are chiefly Kurds ; and the Turcomans 
retire here in the fummer from the plain of Antioch, as before 
mentioned. Many thoufand acres abound with cedars of great 
fize and age ; favines and junipers cover fome of the brows. 
The cedars throw around a delicious odour. Some of our 
company, when they wifhed to warm themfelves, the air being 
cold to excefs, would fet fire to the dead trees by kindling a 
3 G 2 little 
