TIBERIAS TO NAPOLOSE. 265 
about two miles in breadth, and five in lensfth. chap. 
VI. 
This fortress held out against Djezzar, when /—J 
he was Pasha of Damascus, and compelled him 
to raise the siege after two months. Having 
ascended to the caslle, we were admitted 
within the gate, beneath a vaulted passage, 
quite dark, from its tortuous length and many 
windings. In the time of the Crusades, it must 
have been impregnable ; yet is there no account 
of it in any author; and certainly it is not 
of later construction than the period of the 
Holy Wars. The Governor received us into 
a large vaulted chamber, resembling what is 
called the Keep, in some of our old Norman 
castles ; which it so much resembled, that if 
we consider the part acted by the Normans 
in those w^ars, it is possible this building may 
have owed its origin to them. A number of 
weapons, such as guns, pistols, sabres, and 
poignards, hung round the walls. Suspended 
with these, were the saddles, gilded stirrups, 
and rich housings, belonging to the lord of the 
citadel. Upon the floor were couched his 
greyhounds, and his hawkers stood waiting in 
the yard before the door of the apartment; 
so that every thing contributed to excite ideas 
of other times, and a scene of former ages 
seemed to be realized before our eyes. The 
figure of the Governor himself was not the least. 
