Part II. Travels into Levant. 
13 
the Clock after Noon, in the worft way imaginable; for they were all great 
liones, amongft which there was no place for a Mule to fet his foot. After 
Noon it was a little better, but we faw no fowed Land, .all the ground about 
being ftill full of a prodigious number of ftones. Neverthelefs our Monkires 
would needs have me believe that heretofore Vines had grown there : Indeed, 
in feveral places there are ftill to be feen fome Hovels like to Hen-houfcs, made 
of ftones piled one upon another, where it might be thought that they who 
drefied the Vines retired ; but fince that time fome Medufas head muft needs 
have paft over thefe grounds; or the Earth hath brought forth ftones inftead 
of Grapes. Having travelled in this manner till towards three of the Clock in 
the Afternoon ; we found a Village called Kefarheyar, where, our Moukires be- Kefarhevar, Â 
ing in the humour totellftories, told me that. Heretofore iVÏ»iîroJd welt there, 
and that from thence he ftiot Arrows againft Heaven. We paft that Village, 
and having defended into a Valley, and then mounted a little up again, we 
came to Village called Beitima, where we took up our Lodging in a noble Beidma, a 
ftable, for in it was a place of Earth raifed two foot high, to make a fèparate ^^^^^g^- 
appartment for the men from the Beafts, 
Next day being Friday the eight and twentieth of March we fet out half an 
hour after five in the Morning: At firft we did nothing but mount and def 
cend during the fpace of two hours, afterwards we entered into a great plain 
full of ftones, except in fome places that were fbwed, and that plain reaches 
as far asDamafcus. There are a-great many Villages in it, and at firft we fàw ^'f'V Villages 
one called Cat ana, about half a French League to the left of us : Then we theTem- 
paft near to another called Artous ; a little after we perceived one to our ^°^^°f^^^^'^' 
right hand named Mahtamia, and fo a great many more : after that we left 
the High- way that leads to the Town, and ftruck off to the left, tilt we came 
to a great Village c2\\q<X Soliman, and from thence to another named Sdaia^ 
which was the Village of our Moukires, where they would have had me to 
lodge, had I not kept a great clutter with them ; thefe Blades go commonly 
to that Village to change their Beafts. We went on then on our Journey, 
and having paft near to many Gardens, I arrived at Damafcus about three -^rrivaUtDs.^ 
of the Clock after Noon : In all this Journey we fàw but four Wolves of '"-'^'^"s- 
a greyifh white Colour, they were in company together, and feemed not at 
all to be afraid of us ; for inftead of running away, they retreated at a foot 
pace onely : we faw alfo feveral Covies of Patridges. 
C H A P. IV, 
Of the City of Damafcus. 
AFter I had refted fome days in Damafcus, I refolved to view the City, 
but before I undertook it, I took my neceffary meafures ; and fince one 
muft be affifted by fome who have power, I failed not to pay a vifit to Tofgt 
BaJJ'a, who received me moft courteoufly and civilly ; I fhall mention here- 
after who this is, and the good Offices he did me. 
The City of Damafcus has eight Gates; to wit, the Eaft-Gate, or Bah- The number of 
Charki, that looks on the South-fide, along the Walls that are oppofite to ^'^^^ 
the Eaft: Bah-Tchtaour , that looks to the South: Bab-Jabie that looks to the '^''^^"^'^«^ 
Weft, but fomewhat Southward: Bah-Choucaroua or Baù-Efpahi, that's to 
fay the Spalnes Gate, becaufe furniture neceffary for Horfe-men is fold there, 
it looks to the Weft: it is alfo called the Serraglio Gate, becaufe it is oppofite 
to the Serraglio : Bab-Faboutch, fo called, becaufe it is the place where they 
fell Faboutches or fhoes ; it looks betwixt Weft and North ; but fomewhat 
more towards the ^Veft : Bab-Fardis, that's to fay, the Gate of Paradife 
which looks betwixt Weft and North, but more towards the North : Bab- 
^^î/swîor Gate of Peace, fo called, becaufe no dues arç payed either entering 
C 3 ' în - 
