328 
them except by their large ears, which they always car- 
ry erect. Both the mules and the asses are commonly 
black; they try to outstrip each other in speed. 
There was a great number of travellers, women and 
children of both sexes, with us. 
From information which I received it appears, that 
Taraboulous or Tripoli, is almost exactly to the west 
of Kara. Baalbek, a large city in ruins, is situated at 
the distance of a day's journey W. S. W. from hence. 
At an hour's distance towards the west, is the river 
Caffara, which empties itself into a lake. At the distance 
of twenty-two hours, or three days journey eastward, is 
Tadmor or Palmyra. This city, once so famous, is 
even now half as large as Kara; that is to say, it may 
contain five hundred families. In going to Palmyra, 
travellers stop the first day at the village Haouarinn, 
and the second at that of Kariteinn. The Arabs of 
Anaze, distant two days journey towards the S. E. ex- 
tend their dominions and incursions as far as Palmyra. 
There does not exist any tribe of Bedouins between 
them and Kara. A man upon a dromedary goes to Pal- 
myra in less than a day. 
Wednesday % 2d September. 
The caravan set out at half past three in the morning, 
ascending and descending mountains in a N. j N. W. 
direction. We arrived about six at a group of houses, 
looked upon as a fortress, and called Kalaat el Eridj. 
It contains some inhabitants and cattle. 
Two hours afterwards we arrived at a spot which is 
said to be dangerous. It is a defile commanded by 
heights, upon which there arc several heaps of stones 
in the form of parapets, which are supposed to have 
been erected by the robbers. All the armed men be* 
