26 
Travels into the Levant. Part I Î . • 
refervatory for Water, built of Free-ftone,that (erves for watering the Beafts : 
That water runs from a little Conduit, which keeps always the Bafbn full, 
and I believe it comes from a Brook, that runs behind the Han, on the Eaft- 
fide, almoft by the root of the Walls. In this Court there are Lodging-rooms 
under a vaulted Gallery that runs all round it, and is fupported on each 
fide in length, by eleven Arches, and by nine in breadth. Behind that Gal- 
lery there is a kind of vaulted Stable, which ranges likewile round the Court, 
and that Court has its Mafiabez to feparate the Men from the Beafts ; thefe 
Majlabez, are divided into feveral appartments, every one having its Chim- 
ney, and the Entry to it is by a gate in the middle of each fide. This whole 
Fabrick is of Free-ftone, and well endowed, being founded by a Fizier. The 
Caftle which Ptetro Delia Valle fays is in this Town, with a good Garrifon, is 
not there, and in all probability never was, unlefs he meant a large round 
Tower in the Village, which is eafily feen from the Han, and upon the road 
too; becaufe it is much higher than the Walls of the Village, into which I 
entered not, as not thinking it convenient, befides that, there is a pretty deal 
of way from the Han to that Village. ACountrey-man told me, that hereto- 
tofore that Town was held by the Francks, and that then there was a lovely 
Church where at prefènt the Han ftands. 
We parted from thence on JVednefàay the twenty third of Ap-H^ about 
three long hours before the break of day, and our departure was fo fud- 
den, thatfofbonas they awakened me, we made hafle and loaded, and 
followed the Caravan that was upon the march before we began to load. 
I thought that the Moon not rifmg till a little before day, we fhould have 
put off till day ; but we went by Candle-light, I having borrowed a Lan- 
thorn. All that I could obferve in the darknefs, was that our way was 
North-Eaft, and that we were entering in amongft Mountains, but with a ve- 
ry eafie afcent, they being onely near us on both fides, and were all of pieces 
of fharp pointed Rocks. We went alfo along the fide of a precipice, but that 
lafted not long. A little after we paft by a kind of a Han, that ftood alone 
by it felf : I fuffered much cold that Night,though I had on my Capot, for the 
Wind that blew pierced through every thing. When it began to be day, I 
perceived the more we advanced the more diftant were the Hills from us on 
both fides, and ftill leflening in height. By day we were got into a great 
Abmomm Plain covered with heath and Ahrotonum fœmïna, of which there is a great 
famina. deal on the way from Damafcus to Aleppo^ but it is very low. We continu- 
ed our march in that plain as far as JNebk, where commonly they pay ten 
Tiafires a Mule; we paft by a Village before where there is a Han. 
Nebk. About Noon we arrived at Nebk, which is a pretty good Village built upon 
a Height, and watered by a River that runs underneath it ; upon which 
there is a little Bridge of three Arches, and by it we encamped : There is a 
Han made there fince, which at that time they were finifliing. It is all of 
Free-ftone, taken out of adjoyning Quarries, which are common in that 
place, and furnifli as much Stone as one can defire. There are Greeks in 
that Village, and on the fides of the River many Gardens, planted for the 
moft part with Vines. 
We parted from Nebk, on Thurfday the four and twentieth of April, three 
hours before day ; our way lay Northward, and at break of day, we paflcd 
Cam. through C^r^, which is a good Town, having a Rivulet running by it. There 
are a great many ruines to be feen there, which are a fign that heretofore it 
hath been fomewhat more confiderable ; and indeed, the People of the 
Countrey fay, that when that place belonged to the Chriftians it was a no- 
ted Town. There are lèverai Greeks there ftill, who have a Church beauti- 
fully painted. A little after we found a great Caravan confifting of fome 
hundreds of Camels and Mules, carrying Men, Women and Children with 
their Baggage, who were going to Damafcus on their way to Mecha. About 
El-Boiimd- nine of the Clock we paffed by a little Iquare Caftle, called El-Bouraidgee, of 
gee. which the Gates are faced with Iron : Upon the Walls I faw two fmall Falcons 
or Petreras, appearing out at the Battlements. Then for above an hour, we 
ftruck off to the North- Weft amongft little hills; and half an hour after 
ten, entered into a great Plain where nothing grew, but Heath and Abro- 
tonum 
