CHAP. I. 
JOURNEY IN THE MOUNTAINS. 
21 
JOURNEY TO THE GHARIAN MOUNTAINS AND BENIOLEED. 
Sunday, February 7th, 1819. — Leaving Belford in charge of our 
house, we quitted Tripoli at 10. 5. A, M. and after passing through 
the gardens of the Meshea «u^^, at eleven arrived on the desert to 
the southward of them, near the tomb of the Maraboot Seyd 
JO*-; who is spoken of in the "Letters from Tripoli." The sand 
here rises in irregular hills, and is totally barren, not the slightest 
traces of vegetation being perceptible. We continued travelling 
over this until five o'clock, when we came to small spots of grass 
and shrubs, on which flocks were feeding, and where a few Bedouins 
had pitched their tents. We waited here for our camels, having 
directed our course south south-west about fifteen miles, and on their 
coming up, pitched our tents near a well on the plain. The Chowse 
ordered us a supper, from the Sheikh of the Arabs, and we soon had 
a smoking bowl of Bazeen and lamb. All the young girls came to 
stare at us and our tents, as something quite new to them. 
Monday, 8th February. — At eight we started, and travelled 
south-west by south over a country nearly desert, until ten, when we 
passed a few corn-fields, and a pretty plain covered with tents and 
flocks. Here we stopped to examine the ruins of the Castle of 
Mejnine ^jov^-*. This was once used as a frontier post for the 
troops of the Bashavv^, who kept the rebel Arab tribes in check ; but 
having been built of mud and small stones, the rains have now Vv^asiied 
it nearly away : part of the w^alls only and a gate are still standing. 
From this place we had a fine view of the Gliarian mountains, and 
observed that several hills in the range were in a conical form. On 
leaving it, we proceeded until 1. 30. P. M. when we stopped at a 
tent by the invitation of an Arab, who had ridden the preceding 
