ACRE. 97 
to accompany us during the expedition, and to 
render us every assistance in his power. 
The air of Acre is much better than that of cumate. 
Cyprus ; and a similar remark applies generally 
to all the coast of Syria and Palcestine. The 
maritime districts of these two countries consist 
of the finest territories in the Levant. As a 
proof of the salubrity of their climate, may be 
mentioned the absence of noxious reptiles^ and 
of those venomous insects which, by their 
swarms, peculiarly characterize unwholesome 
air. We observed neither toads nor mosquitoes, 
nor even locusts ; although it be probable that the- 
last of these have not altogether forsaken a region 
where their visits have been occasionally cala- 
mitous. There are few exceptions to an 
observation which has, in a certain degree, 
been confirmed by the author's own experience ; 
namely, that unwholesome air prevails, during 
certain seasons, over all the shores of the inland 
seas, from the Straits of Gibraltar to the marshes 
of the Don. We are told, indeed, of the salu- 
brity of the South of France; and certain 
situations may be pointed out along the coast of 
Syria, uninfected by any summer mal-aria ^ But, 
(3) According to Volney, even that of Acre is unwholesome in 
summer. He speaks of infectious vapours from lakes in the low 
grounds ; 
