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The walls of the city are surrounded by a space 
forming innumerable burying grounds, which indicate 
■v the great population of this place. Towards the south, 
upon an isolated mountain, which has the appearance 
of the ruins of Alexandria, stands a fortress of a very 
ancient date, with a number of cylindrical towers, ad- 
vantageously situated, but now half in ruins. 
The position of the city is equally good. It is a little 
elevated, very airy and healthy; consequently the plague 
has committed no ravages here for the last fifteen years; 
and whilst this scourge desolated the city of Aleppo, 
the inhabitants of Horns were not affected, notwith- 
standing their active commerce with those of that place, 
and their want of precautions to shun the contagion. 
On witnessing such things, one is tempted to excuse 
in a certain degree the fatalism of the Turks and Arabs, 
which is the cause of their heedlessness in this respect. 
There is at Horns a door, some remains of walls, 
and two towers, which are the ruins of the abode of the 
ancient Greeks. 
Taraboulous is distant three days journey from Horns 
towards the W. S. W. The first day, travellers halt at 
Hadidi, the second at Scheik-Aaraschi. 
To go to Palmyra, it is necessary to go first to 
Hassia, and from thence to follow the route already 
pointed out. It is reckoned four days journey from 
Horns to Latakia. 
Friday, 4th September. 
The caravan resumed its march at half past two in 
the morning, in a northerly direction. We left the little 
village of Dedd et Teille upon the right about five, and 
entered Rastan at seven. 
The country which we had traversed was as elevated 
