'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.' [‎451] (536/905)

CHAP. XIX.]
TARTOUS, OR TORTOSA.
451
Kurds and Mitaulis; but the steep ridges separating deep
valleys and mountain basins, whicli are occupied by hundreds
of villages, constitute the features of the country on the
western side. Wherever it is practicable, the industrious
inhabitants have raised walls to support terraces, on which
are cultivated vines, mulberry, and olive trees ; and interspersed
with these, are patches of tobacco, hemp, wheat, dhurrah, &c.;
the rest of the surface, being a mixture of the boldest rocks,
shaded by pines, cedars, &c., presents the most animated and
striking scenery that can well be imagined.
Marked natural separations have given rise to eighteen Subdivisions of
subdivisions of this district. Immediately northward of ara 0 u8 '
Tripoli itself is that of El Saure, peopled by Maronites; and
onward, near the foot of Lebanon, is El Akkar; again, to the
north-eastward is El Shara; and still higher, Szafeita, the
capital of the Ansaries. A little way to the westward of
this place is Mar Djordjos, an extensive Greek convent, with
vineyards and olive groves around; 1 and on the coast north
ward of El Nahr Kebir is the district of Tartous. Within
the town of this name, or rather Antartous, 2 now small and
poor, are the remains of a Gothic church and castle. In the
time of the Crusades it was a place of great strength, and it
is still defensible, 3 being washed by the sea on one side, and
elsewhere defended by two lines of well-constructed walls,
with a double ditch. Outside of these, towards the south
and east, are some fine excavations and other remains of the Remams about
ancient city of Orthosia. 4 Two miles westward is the
castellated island of Ruad, covered with buildings, and still
defended by walls, the highest part of which is at the
northern extremity. On the eastern side, opposite the
anchorage, are the remains of ancient piers, and on the other
is a portion of the sea-wall; it is constructed with large
stones, and probably was part of ancient Aradus 5 (Arvad, 6 or
1 Burckhardt's Travels in Syria, pp. 159,160. 2 Edrisi, tome IV., p. 351.
8 An attempt to carry these works was the only failure which occurred
during the late operations in Syria.
4 Strabo, Jib. XVI., p. 753; PUn., Kb. V., c. xx.
s Plin., lib. V., c. xx. 8 Gen., chap. XV., v. 18.
3 M 2