'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎387] (464/905)

CHAP. XVII.] JEBEL LIBNAN, OR LEBANON.
387
naked rock, answering to its expressive name, Jebel-el-Akra,
or the bald mountain.
From the extensive valley just noticed, an elevated range
advances southward ; and from this proceed several trans
verse ridges, with a succession of deep valleys and rocky crags,
forming that wild and almost uninhabited country which
extends from the western extremity of the chain to Ladikeyeh,
and onward from thence towards the principal ridge.
The latter, under the name of Jebel Kraad, quits the Principal ridge
eastern extremity of Anti-Casius a little way beyond Antioch
> Casius.
and from thence this chalk formation presents a tame rounded
outline as it runs SLS.W. along the upper Orontes, forming
the water-shed between that river and the Nahr-el-Kebir.
On the banks of the latter the chain takes the name of
Jebel Nosai'ri or Ausari, and runs southward at the distance
of 12 or 15 miles from the coast, passing Kal'at Muzyad, and
onward to Kal'at-el-Medik.
This part of the chain is much lower than that beyond the ^ a e r 1 '? 1 ' nd
Orontes : like the latter, it is chiefly a chalk formation, par- Lebanon,
tially covered with pines or oaks, but in general it is but
scantily wooded ; and with the exception of its western slopes,
on which olives, vines, and the celebrated tobacco of Ladi
keyeh are cultivated, it for the most part presents a rounded
outline and barren aspect. The Nosairi chain is also of chalk,
and its general elevation scarcely exceeds 1000 feet: it is
steep towards the Orontes, while on the western side it
descends in low irregular hills and vine-clad slopes into the
plain of Jebile; by the scarcity of timber, this chain differs
much from the hills northward of the Orontes. In its onward
course the Jebel-el-Gharbi, or the western mountain of the
Arabs, becomes better known as Jebel Libnan or Mount
Lebanon, and is of a lofty character; its principal peaks are
Jebel Akkar, Jebel Arneto, and Jebel Makmel. The last is
a little way southward of the mountain recess containing the
celebrated cedars, which in this sheltered spot, and in a few
other places only, have attained an extraordinary size: it in
general should be observed, however, that although indige
nous to the soil, the cedars scarcely exceed the size of mere