325 
After having passed over the mountains, we travers- 
ed another large plain in a N.N.E. direction, in which 
is situated the village of Cotr.ifa, where we arrived at a 
quarter before eight in the morning. This village has 
several gardens, and a mosque, which, though small, is 
very pretty. I rested there during our stay at Cotaifa 
until ten in the evening, when we resumed our route 
to the northward. 
Monday ', $\st August. 
After having ascended several small hills in different 
directions, we arrived a little before midnight at Khan 
Aarous, which is falling to ruins. The village of Ma- 
loula lies a league to the west of this Khan. 
Continuing our march to the N. N. E. across a flat 
country intersected with hills and deserts, we arrived at 
Nebka at eight in the morning. This town is well situ- 
ated, and may contain about a thousand families. There 
are several gardens and excellent water. 
All the country on this side of Khan Khossier is en- 
tirely calcareous, scattered over with round stones of 
the same nature, and entirely destitute of vegetation 
except some patches of grass. 
The natives were spreading a rumour that the Arabs 
of Anaze, having marched against the Wehhabites, had 
taken from them a certain numlfer of women, young 
girls, and children, and that they had "brought them 
into this country to sell them as slaves; treating them 
as infidels, unworthy to be Mussulmen. I had been 
told at Damascus that the Anazes were the friends of 
the Wehhabites, which made me presume, that this 
war was carried on by another tribe or canton of 
Anazis, a considerable nation, or perhaps, that this 
