235 
Khanj r ounes is a town surrounded with walls and 
gardens, in a good situation, at a short distance from 
the sea, and is the first inhabited place upon entering 
Syria upon the south side. 
Tuesday, 14th July. 
The caravan set out at four o'clock in the morning, 
proceeding generally to the N. E. over lands sometimes 
waste and sometimes cultivated. About seven we cross- 
ed a torrent called El Wadi Gaza, which was then dry, 
and an hour afterwards we entered Gaza, having hap- 
pily completed the passage of the Desert. 
Gaza is a considerable town advantageously situated 
upon an eminence, and surrounded with a great num- 
ber of gardens. It is supposed to contain nearly five 
thousand inhabitants. The streets are very narrow, and 
the houses, most of which have gardens, are almost all 
without windows. El Seray or the governor's mansion, 
appears to be considerable, as also the garden that be- 
longs to it. El Mehkeme, or The Tribunal, which is 
also the residence of the Kadi, is a vast edifice. The 
country abounds in calcareous stone or coarse marble, 
of the finest white colour, of which all the principal 
edifices in Gaza are built. 
This town contains many mosques, the largest of 
which is an ancient Greek church, of a fine appearance, 
to which the Turks have added several buildings, but 
they are in a bad taste, and do not harmonize with the 
rest. 
The markets are well supplied, and the provisions 
are cheap. There are several shops for other merchan- 
dize, but they do not present a very favourable idea of 
the commerce of the town. 
The water is procured from wells; it is both good 
