( H7 ) 
we had feen, and glad to have efcaped To dreaded a 
Place, without any trouble or pretences upon us but 
elfe with (bme regret, for having left a great many 
things behind, which deferved a more particular and 
curious In fpedlion. Our Road lay almoft due Eaft, or 
a little enclining to the North ; and on the left-hand, a 
ridge of Hills ftretched along for a great fpace, feme- 
times about half an hour diftant from the Road, and 
fometimes opening wider : Theft Hills, we were told, 
were ftored with rich Veins of divers Minerals, and af- 
forded all that vaft quantity of Marble, the Remains 
whereof we had feen at Ta^mor ; and it was from a Foun- 
tain call'd Ahulfarras, at the foot of one of them, they 
fetcht out Water, which we drank there | the Inhabitants 
contenting themfelves with that which runs from the 
Hot Springs. To the right-hand lay a vaft barren 
Plain, perfedly bare, and hardly any thing green to be 
feen therein, except it were a few Gourds, which our 
Servants found on the fide of a little rifing-Ground, where 
there was no fliew of any thing moift to feed them. 
Our Way being plain, we had the fight of Tadmgr^ efpe- 
cially the Caftle, for above half our Stage, till we came 
to an €ld Caphar Houfe. We made indeed a very fliort 
Day's Journey in the whole, finding a Fountain of ex- 
cellent Water in about five hours and a halPs riding ; 
which, as it was a moft welcom Refrefliment to us in 
fuch a thirfty Deftrt, fo it was the only good Water we 
met with till we came to Euphrates, which was not till 
the third day from this place. At this Fountain we 
pitcht, near to which is a Village, but almoft wholly 
ruined and deferted. 'Twas fome time before any body 
would be feen, for they were afraid of us at lengthjthree 
Men came out to our Tents, Spectacles of a miferable 
poverty, occafion'd by their being frequently pillaged by 
the Mountain Arahy and a great Duty they pay to Af- 
fyncAhaffe their King, for his Protection ; Three hun- 
Aa ^ died 
