TREE ON THE KASR. 
369 
months, and “ in the heat of the day,” would he be found “ at 
his tent-door in the plain of Mam re.” Standing, as I believed 
myself to be, over part of the foundations of one of these vene¬ 
rable specimens of building, of ages so near the first fathers of 
mankind, it was with inexpressible regret that I found the 
avenues of search closed in many places which had admitted 
Mr. Rich to the most interesting particulars of his examination. 
The lower distribution of the serdaubs, dark chambers, and nu¬ 
merous intricate passages, have long been broken up, or im¬ 
penetrably buried ; and the subterraneous way, near the ravine, 
which our British resident has described with so much valuable 
precision, is now completely lost. Some persons have consi¬ 
dered it to have been a drain; but its dimensions appear too 
large for such a purpose, and its situation not low enough in the 
foundation to have been intended to carry off any superflux of 
waters from the entire building : hence, I regard it as no other 
than one of the many passages, which, in every direction, must 
have traversed so comprehensive an edifice. 
In proceeding to the northern side of the Kasr, amongst the 
mouldering fragments, and elevated on a sort of ridge, stands the 
famous solitary tree, called by the Arabs Athele. Its species is 
quite strange to this country; but two servants of mine, natives 
of Bender-Bushire, told me they had seen several like it in their 
own land, where it is known by the name of gaz, or guz, and 
that they live to a great age. The one in question bears every 
mark of antiquity in appearance, situation, and tradition. Its 
trunk has originally been enormous; but at last worn away bv 
time, only part of its original circumference, hollow, and shat¬ 
tered, support the whole of its yet spreading and ever-green 
branches. They are particularly beautiful, being adorned with 
3 B 
VOL. II. 
