Part 1. Travels into the L e v.a n t. i 79 
French Books of Phyfick and Chirurg*ery, that had belonged to a Dutch.Chi- 
riirgeon, who died there fome Months before, as he was coming h o\t\ Caire 
with the Caravan, which the Cachef fignified by Letter to the French Con- 
ful at C.atre:^ he told me that he had a Cheft full of them: he Ihewed me 
alfo holy Sepulchres, and other fnch Relicks of the fame Dutch-mans, and 
gave me fome of them \ having afterward treated me with Coffee, he asked 
me wherein he could ferve me ; I thanked him heartily for his civility, and 
being returned to my Tent, made up a Box of Raifms, Almonds, and fuch other 
Fruits, (which are there a great Treat) and prefented it to him. 
We parted from Catie Monday the firft of Jfnl at nine a clock in the 
Morning, and four Turks armed with Muskets and Shables, waited on us as 
a guard to Riche^ becaufe we were afraid to be fet upon by the Arabs. About 
two a tlock we found a fhallow and narrow but very long Pit full of very 
white Salt, and they aflured'us that that Salt was made only by the Rain- ^^'^ of Rain- 
water, the fand of that place having fuch vertue, as beiug without doubt ^^'■^'^* 
very -Salt, and the like is to be feen in Alexandria. We came to Birlab Birixb, 
about ten a Clock at night, which is a Defart without any Habitation, but 
hath three wells of Salt-water. 
We fet out from thence next day r/^f/^s?^;» the fécond of Aprils about ten a 
Clock in the morning, and about noon came to a well of good frefh water • 
lately made by a Sangiac of <L^fjpt^ for all Travellers : About fix a clock 
at night we arrived at a place called Bir Acat, which is alfo in the Defart, ^<^^^' 
having neither habitation nor water to water Beafls j and ail thefe ways are 
full of Quick-Sands, 
We lay there, and parted on ^Fe^^^e/^^^^ the third of Açril^ about fix a clock 
in the Morning, and about one of the clock at noon we found a Well called 
Sibil el bar Acat^ newly made by an Aga, who paffed that way a little before 
on his Journey to Confikmimple. ( Sibd fignifies a place where all may have water 
forGod'sfake.) This Well is covered with a Dome, fupported by four walls of 
free-ftone,built Iquare ; the entry into it is by two Doors over againit one ano- 
ther, but one mult firft alcend four or five fteps. The Ciftern is covered 
all over with free-ftdne, except in two round places, big enough to let a . 
Bucket down, by which the water is drawn that rifes pretty high, half a 
fathom of Rope being fufficient to reach it. This Aga left a fond to main- 
tain fome Arabsj who daily bring thither fo many Camels laded with frelli 
Water, which they take at a place near the Sea. Having there made a 
provifion of Water, we entered again into the Q^tickzSat-ids^ vv'hich lailed as 
far as Riche^ where we arrived about four in the Afternoon. A quarter of 
an hour before we got there, we were overtaken by a Storm, which lailed 
above thirty hours. Rich? is a Village not far diflant' from the Sea, it h^ith 
a Caftle well built of little Rock-Stones, as all the Houfes are ; and the 
Cachef of it, as well ,as he of Zaka^ depends on the Cachef of Catie. They ^'^^'i' 
have fo many lovely ancient Marble-Pillars at Riche, that their CofFee-Houfes 
and wells are made of them, and fo are their Burying-places full. 
We parted from Riche, Thiirfday the fourth of April, about one a clock 
at noon, having eight Turks with us, who guarded us to Canniones, for cuumnes, 
fear of the Arabs. An hour after we parted from Riche we found a Sibil of 
Salt Water. We ftill travelled on through SWj, though it blew very 
hard. Rained, Thundered and Lightened, and about midnight came to Zak^ ' 
which is in the Defart, without any Habitation, but has only three Wells of 
bad Water, and yet the Corfairs come often there to take in frefh 
Water. 
Friday the fifth of April the Wind after a great deal of Rain calming, 
we parted from' Zaka about nine a Clock in the Morning, and travelled in 
good way; a lirtle after twelve of the Clock we found threefair Marble- 
Pillars, two flanding, and one lying along upon the ground, and a little 
after a large Well of good Water, where there are Sakis, there we began 
to fee a very pleafmt Countrey, and fome Corn-Land: foraetime after 
we found a Sibil of bitter Water, v^hich is clofe by Cauniones, where we 
arrived about three in the Afternoon : they havefo many Marble-Pillars there 
alfo, that their CofFee-Houfes ftand ail upon fuch. There we began to fee 
A a 2 abundance 
