346 
period at Damascus, and the catholic patriarch in the 
mountains. 
Modern Antioch occupies but a small part of the 
site of the ancient city, of which the vast line of wall 
still exists, and attests its former grandeur. The walls 
enclose a space of more than half a league in diameter, 
and encompass several mountains with ancient fortifi- 
cations, which extend down to the plain. They are of 
stone, half ruined, and are flanked with towers at un- 
equal distances. The ancient gate by which I entered 
is magnificent, but it threatens to fall every moment. 
Before I entered by this gate, I saw upon my left a 
mountain, the lower part of which is perpendicularly 
steep, and presents the form of the front of an edifice, 
with a square door, well cut in the middle, as also 
several windows hewn in the rock, with the same per- 
fection, which appeared to indicate some caverns very 
interesting to the antiquary. The mountains enclosed 
within the walls have alio at their base some perpen- 
dicular steeps, from which run several streams. 
The streets of Antioch are narrow, but they have 
very elevated foot- pavements on each side. The houses 
are of stone, and have a sombre and monotonous ap- 
pearance. They were the first that I had seen covered 
with tiles since I had left Mecca. Every thing indicates 
that this is a very rainy country. The inhabitants mix 
snow with water to cool their beverage. The climate is 
colder than at Aleppo, where no snow falls. It appears 
that the principal product of the country is silk. The 
water and provisions are good. The Arab cakes arc the 
only sort of bread used. I met several women upon my 
arrival who were perfect beauties. 
The governor of this city, who is dependent upon 
the Pacha of Aleppo, has a magnificent suite; during 
