Thomas, Joseph: Travels in Egypt and Palestine (Philadelphia, 1853)

LETTER XII.

TRIP TO BALBEC—MOUNTAIN SCENERY—ENCAMPING OX THE

TOP OF A HOUSE-PLAIN OF BALBEC-MOUNT HERMON-JEBEL

SANNEEN-MOUNT LEBANON-THE RUINS.

After we had taken a rapid survey of Beyroot,
learning that the steamer for Constantinople would
not start for five days, we concluded to occupy the
interim, in making a trip to the ruins of Balbec.
This time we were so fortunate as to engage a very
excellent dragoman, who agreed to furnish us with
everything necessary to the performance of the
journey, including horses, tents, food, &c, at the
rate of a pound sterling per day for each of us.
On this trip our party consisted of only three, Mr.

K-■ having been so much fatigued with the

previous journey, that he found it absolutely neces-
sary to allow himself a few days' repose. Our
route lay across one of the principal ridges of
Mount Lebanon—near the foot of which Beyroot
stands—and "I profess with the veracity of an
historian"—as the Vicar of Wakefield says—that
I never saw any roads, that in roughness or wild-