(8^) 
Palm-Tree, and in Latin (Palmira;) and the whole 
Country is thence denominated Sjria Palwirena ; and 
fooietimes Solitudines Palmirence : So that the Latines 
did not change but only Tranflate the old Name, which 
therefore flill obtains in thefe Eaftern Parts , and the 
more Modern is wholly unknown. 
TadmoK xhe City it felf appears to have been of a large Ex- 
tent, by the fpace now taken up by the Ruines ; but 
there are no foot-fteps of any Walls remaining, nor is 
it poffible to judge of the Ancient Figure of the place. 
The prefent Inhabitants, as they are a poor, miftrable, 
dirty People, fo they have ftiut themfdv^es up, to the 
Number of about Thirty or Forty Families, in little 
Hutts made of Dirt, within the Walls of a fpacious 
Court, which enclofed a moft Magnificent Heathen 
Temple. Hereinto alfo we entred, the whole Power 
of the Village, if I may fo call it, being gathered to- 
gether ac the Door, whether to (land upon their D:^- 
fence, in cafe we proved Enemies, (for fome of them 
had their Guns in their hands) or out of meer Curiofity 
^ > ^/r 1 u to eaze uponus,! know not.Howevef our 
{a) This Affynt was in the ^ ^ ' . , . ^/r / ^ 
Year of oiirlord i^pg.De- Guide, who was an Araby whom AJjyne {a) 
pofcd by the Tiir\s, and their prefent King had fenc to Condu(a us 
7lcT:t^niZ^^^^^^ through the whole Voyage, being a Man 
conftraincd to live upon known among them, we had an eafie Ad- 
^to^d'rtfc o'f mittanccand with a great many Welcomes 
Mcn,who delight not to La- in their Language were led to the Shecks 
abode. And to mention here what the 
Place at firft View Repreftnts. Certainly the World it 
felf cannot afford the like mixture of Remains of the 
greateft State and Magnificence, together with the Ex- 
tremity of Filth and Poverty^ The neareft Parallel I 
can think of, is that of the Temple of Baal^ deftroyed 
by Jehu^ and converted into a Draught-Houfe, z Kings 
10. And if, what is not improbable, this very 
place 
