48 
JOURNEY FROM 
hoona * range and extends to the sea. From the top of Selem there 
is an extensive view westward, over the plain of Jumarr, as far as the 
sandy desert ; and on the eastern side of the ridge there is another 
view, equally imposing, over the plain of Lebida ; so that in spite of 
the torrents of rain which still continued to deluge us, we could not 
help stopping occasionally to admire them. 
1 rom the summit of this range we noticed several remains of what 
appeared to be towers, conspicuously situated on the peaks of the 
hills to the northward ; and which, from the strength of their posi- 
tion, might have bid defiance to any attack that could be made upon 
them : their situations appear to have been chosen with the intention 
of their being easily distinguished one from another, so as to answer 
the purpose of communication. The valleys of this range are capable 
of the highest degree of cultivation, but their fertility has only been 
partially taken advantage of by the Arabs of the neighbourhood. 
In some of them we noticed vines and olive-trees flourishing most 
luxuriantly between patches of ground producing corn and vegetables. 
Descending on the eastern side of the range, the road lies along the 
side of the mountain, and several ruins of forts and tombs are con- 
spicuous on either side of it : here also are several remains of ancient 
wells, and we noticed one, in particular, which had fragments of 
marble columns lying near it. During the whole of this day the 
road was so slippery, in consequence of the heavy rains, that our 
camels could with difiiculty proceed : they were continually falling 
The Terhoona range is a branch of the Gharian. 
