324 
I visited the village of Salakhie, at which the inhabi- 
tants oi Damascus have their pleasure houses. It is 
tolerably large, has two great public markets, and an 
infinity of houses and gardens scattered over the sur- 
rounding country. It is situated at the foot of the 
mountains, northward of Damascus, and is truly a de- 
lightful spot. 
CHAPTER XXI. 
Journey to Aleppo. — Description of the Khans. — Caravan, — Tadraor or Pal- 
myra.— Town of Homs. — River Orontes. — 'I'own of Hama. — Freedom of 
Manners. — Nocturnal Rencounter.— Arrival at Aleppo. — Remark on that 
Town. 
Availing myself of a caravan that was going to 
Aleppo, I mounted my horse and left Damascus on 
Saturday the 29th of August, at four o'clock in the af- 
ternoon. Having proceeded for more than an hour 
through gardens, I advanced along a plain towards the 
N. E. on which are several villages, and at eight arrived 
at a khan, called Khan Khossier, where I joined the 
caravan. 
Sunday y 30 th August. 
We set out about three o'clock in the morning, to- 
wards the E. N. E. over the great plain of Damascus. 
Two hours afterwards we entered a defile, which is 
said to be dangerous, and is terminated by some ruins 
of an ancient work, and by a cistern in which water is 
generally found. 
i 
