DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4703#0003
J
OURNEY from
had alfo our own reafons for more than ordinary folicitude; as we were much
more anxious about preferving the treafure we brought from Palmyra than that
which we carried thither.
Having therefore, by their advice, concealed our intended road back, as well
as the time we propofed to fet out, we left Palmyra March z7th 1751; the few
miferable inhabitants of that place expreffing the utmoft aftonifhment at a vilit
of which they could not comprehend the meaning.
We returned by the fame tirefome road through the Defart, which we have
already defcribed in our journey to Palmyra*, as far as Sudud; without any alarm
except one, which is worth mentioning only as it relates to the manners of the
country.
About four hours before our arrival at Carietein we difcovered a party of
Arabian horfemen at a diftance; to which, had they been fuperiour in number, we
muft have fallen an eafy prey, in the languid ftate to which both our men and
horfes were reduced, by a march of above twenty hours over the burning fands:
but upon our nearer approach they began to retire precipitately, and abandoned
fome cattle, which our friends feized, as a matter of courfe, laughing at our
remonftrances againft their injuftice.
At Sudud we left our former road on the right hand, and in five hours, ftill
through the fame Defart, arrived at Cara, where we took leave of the greateft
part of our Caravan. We fent the manufcripts and marbles, which we had col-
lected , on camels to our fhip at Tripoli; the merchants who had joined us for
protection returned to Damafcus with the fait they went to gather at Palmyra;
and our Arabian horfemen, now no longer of ufe, returned to their mailer the
Aga of Haffia, having demanded a certificate of their vigilance and fidelity, which
indeed they juftly deferved.
cara. Cara, a village on the great Caravan-road from Damafcus to Aleppo, contains,
as we were informed, near a thoufand fouls, and amongft them about twenty Chri-
ftian families. We had paffed through it before in going from Damafcus to Haffia,
from the laft of which it is diftant about fix hours, and under the government of the
fame Aga. There is one ruined Church to be feen here, and another converted into
a Mofque: upon the wall of the latter is a line of Greek, in a bad character, turned
upfide down, in which we could read the words a©anasio2 EnizKonoz.
This village is pleafantly fituated on a riling ground. The common mud,
formed into the fhape of bricks and dried in the fun, of which it's houfes are
built, has at fome diftance the appearance of white ftone. The fhort duration of
fuch materials is not the only objection to them; for they make the ftreets dufty
when there is wind, and dirty when there is rain. Thefe inconveniencies are felt at
Damafcus, which is moftly built in the fame manner.
After near a month's conftant fatigue in the Defart, particularly at Palmyra,
where every hour was precious, we indulged ourfelves here with a day of reft.
* Ruins of Palmyra page 33.
Security
OURNEY from
had alfo our own reafons for more than ordinary folicitude; as we were much
more anxious about preferving the treafure we brought from Palmyra than that
which we carried thither.
Having therefore, by their advice, concealed our intended road back, as well
as the time we propofed to fet out, we left Palmyra March z7th 1751; the few
miferable inhabitants of that place expreffing the utmoft aftonifhment at a vilit
of which they could not comprehend the meaning.
We returned by the fame tirefome road through the Defart, which we have
already defcribed in our journey to Palmyra*, as far as Sudud; without any alarm
except one, which is worth mentioning only as it relates to the manners of the
country.
About four hours before our arrival at Carietein we difcovered a party of
Arabian horfemen at a diftance; to which, had they been fuperiour in number, we
muft have fallen an eafy prey, in the languid ftate to which both our men and
horfes were reduced, by a march of above twenty hours over the burning fands:
but upon our nearer approach they began to retire precipitately, and abandoned
fome cattle, which our friends feized, as a matter of courfe, laughing at our
remonftrances againft their injuftice.
At Sudud we left our former road on the right hand, and in five hours, ftill
through the fame Defart, arrived at Cara, where we took leave of the greateft
part of our Caravan. We fent the manufcripts and marbles, which we had col-
lected , on camels to our fhip at Tripoli; the merchants who had joined us for
protection returned to Damafcus with the fait they went to gather at Palmyra;
and our Arabian horfemen, now no longer of ufe, returned to their mailer the
Aga of Haffia, having demanded a certificate of their vigilance and fidelity, which
indeed they juftly deferved.
cara. Cara, a village on the great Caravan-road from Damafcus to Aleppo, contains,
as we were informed, near a thoufand fouls, and amongft them about twenty Chri-
ftian families. We had paffed through it before in going from Damafcus to Haffia,
from the laft of which it is diftant about fix hours, and under the government of the
fame Aga. There is one ruined Church to be feen here, and another converted into
a Mofque: upon the wall of the latter is a line of Greek, in a bad character, turned
upfide down, in which we could read the words a©anasio2 EnizKonoz.
This village is pleafantly fituated on a riling ground. The common mud,
formed into the fhape of bricks and dried in the fun, of which it's houfes are
built, has at fome diftance the appearance of white ftone. The fhort duration of
fuch materials is not the only objection to them; for they make the ftreets dufty
when there is wind, and dirty when there is rain. Thefe inconveniencies are felt at
Damafcus, which is moftly built in the fame manner.
After near a month's conftant fatigue in the Defart, particularly at Palmyra,
where every hour was precious, we indulged ourfelves here with a day of reft.
* Ruins of Palmyra page 33.
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