NAZARETH TO TIBERIAS. 201 
ks borders, which we beheld at an amazing chap. 
depth below our view, resembled, by the ' — r--^ 
various hues their different produce presented, 
the motley pattern of a vast carpets To the 
north appeared snowy summits, towering be- Libanm. 
yond a series of intervening mountains, with 
unspeakable greatness. We considered them 
as the summits of Lihanus : but the Arabs 
belonging to our caravan called the principal 
eminence Jehel el Sick, saying it was near to 
Damascus; probably, therefore, a part of the 
chain of Libanus\ This summit was so lofty, 
that the snow entirely covered the upper part 
of it : not lying in patches, as, during summer, 
upon the tops of some very elevated mountains, 
(for instance, upon that of Ben Nevis in Scotland,) 
but investing all the higher part with that per- 
fect white and smooth velvet-like appearance 
(3) The exceeding fertility of this part of the Holi/ Land is noticed 
by all travellers, and all authors, uho have mentioned this country. 
mfosephus speaks of the extraordinary aptitude, both of the climate and 
soil, towards the production of all kinds of fruit and vegetables; so 
that plants, requiring elsewhere a difterence of temperature, thrive 
here, says he, as if the seasons were in a competition which should 
contribute most. Figs and grapes continue in season during ten 
months out of the twelve, and other fruit throughout the whole year. 
(Vid. Joseph, de Bell. Jud. lib. iii. c. 18.) 
(4) According to D'Anville, Jebel el Sieh is the general name for 
tbe whole chain of Anti-Lihanus, identified by Jerom with the scrip- 
tural Hermon ; but the authority even of D'Anville is not decisive as 
to the exact position or names of places in Syriii. 
