from timberi as to napolgse. 20 
began our journey to Napolose at four o’clock. At seven we* 
arrived at the castle of Santorri , situated upon a hill, and much 
resembling the old castellated buildings in England. It is very 
strong, and, for a place of so much consideration, it may be 
wondered that no account is given of it, even by authors who 
mention almost every village in the Holy Land. We should 
have considered this as the site of the ancient Samaria , were 
if not for the express mention made by Maundrell,* and by 
others, of the town of Sebaste , still preserving a name belong¬ 
ing to that city. Q^uaresmius also mentions! the city of “ Se- 
baste,sivo Samaria” as occurring in the route from Sichar to 
Jemni , or Jenniti r although, performing this journey, we found 
no other place intervening, except Santorri; and it is situated 
upon a hill, according to the description given of ancient Sa¬ 
maria, which D’Anville places midway between Ginaea and 
Napolose, or Siceem. To enter further upon this subject at 
present, were rather to perplex than to illustrate the geography 
of the country; and therefore it may be left for future travel¬ 
lers to explain the real situation of the place called Sebaste by 
Qnavesmius, and Sebasta by Maundreil, and possibly to throw 
some light upon the story of Santorri. 
The hill whereon the castle of Santorri is situated, rises up¬ 
on the south side of a valley, bounded by other hills on every 
side; being about two miles in breadth, and five in length. 
This fortress held out againt Djczzar, when he was pacha of 
Damascus, and compelled him to raise the siege after two 
months. Having ascended to the castle, 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 ac¬ 
count of it in any author; and certainly it is not of later con¬ 
struction than the period of the Holy Wars. The governor 
received ns into a large vaulted chamber, resembling what is 
called^ keep in some of our old JNf orman castles, which it so 
much resembled, that if we consider the part acted by the 
Normans in those wars, it is possible this building may have 
owed its origin to them. A number of weapons, such as gun?,, 
pistols, sabres, and poignards, hung round the walls. Suspend¬ 
ed with these, were the saddles, gilded stirrups, and rich hous¬ 
ings, belonging to the lord of the citadel. Upon the floor 
& Journey from Alep.to Jerus, pp. 59, and 111. CXxf. 1721. 
• 't ElticM. Teir. Sanct toxn. II. p. 810, Antvfcrp, 1639. 
