( 85 ) 
to render it almofl Impregnable; ftanding on the top 
of a very high Hill, enclofed with a deep Ditch, cur 
out of the very Rock, over which there was only one 
fole Faflage by a Draw- Bride : This Bridge too is now 
broken down; To that tl\ere is no Entrance remaining, 
unlefs you will be at the pains to clamber up the Rock^ 
which is in one place feafible, but withal fo difficult and 
hazardous, that a ftnali flip may endanger ones Life, 
Nor is there any thing within to be feen lufficient to re- 
compence your Trouble of getting up to it, the Build- 
ing being confufed, and the Rooms very ill contrived. 
Upon the top of the Hill there is a Well of a Prodigious 
depth, as certainly it muft be a great way to come at 
Water from the top of fuch a Rock, the Ditch that fur- 
rounds it, not having the leaft appearance of moifture 
therein ; which made it therefore (eem more ftrange 
that a Wild Boar ftiould ruili out thence amongft our 
Horfes, when we rode up to take a more particular 
View of the place. This Caftle (lands on the North 
fide of the Tow^n, and from hence you have the bed 
Profped: of the Country all about. You fee TaJmor 
under you inclofed on three ildes with long Ridges of 
Mountains, which open towards the Eaft gradually to 
the diftance of ^bout an hours Riding ; but to the South 
ftretches a vaft Plain beyond the reach of the Eye. In 
this Plain you fee a large Valley of Salt, affording great The v^f- 
quantities thereof, and lying near about an hour diftance ^^^^ 
from the City. And this more probably is the Valley 
of Salt, mentioned X .S^w. 8. 13. where David fmora 
the Syrians^ and flsw 18000 Men, than another w4iich 
lyes but four hours from Aleppo, and has fomerimes paft 
for it. Tiie Air is good, but the Soil exceeding b.arreo, 
nothing greto to be feeo therein, lave fome few Pahn- 
Trees in the Gardens, and here and there about the 
Town. And from thefe Trees I conceive is obtained its 
Name^ both irj Hebrew (Tadmor) which fignifics a 
■ , " . ^ P z Palm- 
