'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.' [‎389] (466/905)

CHAP. XVII.]
ANTI-LEBANON.
389
Medik, and continues along the western side of Hamah till it
forms the Anti-Lebanon Mountains nearly opposite to Horns.
The preceding portion is but little known, having scarcely
been visited: it appears to be of limestone, and presents from
the plains near its eastern side a bold and rugged outline.
Under the name of the Jebel-es-Sharld (Eastern-Mountain)
the A nti-Lebanon, at which we are now arrived, takes a
south-westerly course along Coele-Syria, 1 now the valley of
Bika, showing, as it runs parallel to the Ijebanon, 2 the peaks
of Zibdeni, and again those of Es-Sharki just before the range
is broken by the Boghaz; through this opening one of the
caravan routes passes from the great valley, and continues
from thence nearly in an easterly direction to Damascus.
The chain is of limestone, almost continuous, and has a width
of about 20 miles, with an elevation at its crest probably ex
ceeding 9000 feet. Towards the valley of Baalbec it presents
steep acclivities without pasture or trees, and is thinly peopled;
but on the opposite side the villages are more numerous, corn
is cultivated, and the hills are covered with mulberry plan
tations.
After a south-westerly prolongation for a short distance Branches of
beyond the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. , Jebel-es-Sharki sends out two branches libanon"
from its western, and soon afterwards a third from its eastern
slopes. The smaller of the two former diverges from the
Anti-Lebanon in a south-westerly direction, enclosing on one
side Rai'shiyah and Hasibiyah, as well as the fertile Wadl-el-
Tei'm, in which those rivers are situated, till, with the ex
ception of a precipitous gorge on the banks of the Leontes, it
unites with the elevated range of Lebanon. Although not by
any means lofty, this range forms the water-shed between the
last-mentioned river and the streams flowing eastward into the
Nahr Hasibiyah ; and is remarkable as it separates the northern
valley from that which lies to the south, and through which
flows the celebrated Jordan. The basin of this river becomes
more distinct as it extends southward; but the hills forming
its western limits are much lower, and are less strongly
1 Strabo, XVI., p. 754.
* Ibid.