'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.' [‎471] (558/905)

CHAP. XIX.]
BETEDDIN AND ZAHLE.
471
each about 40 feet square, and almost every Christian family
has one, which is walled up after each interment. 1
Beteddin, the walled palace of the Emir Bechir is a little The palace
way south-eastward, on the southern side of the valley, and BecWr. mr
nearly on the same level; it occupies the crest of an isolated
sugar-loaf hill, whose slopes are covered by terraced gardens,
supported by walls, forming a succession of circles from the
base almost to the summit; through these, by means of a
flight of steep steps, there is an ascent from the valley to the
palace. A castellated entrance leads into an outer court of
the latter, round which are arcades, partly used as stables, and
partly by the guards and other attendants; on the western
side there is a Saracenic archway leading into a second court;
and beyond is a third court, which is that of the harem. The
second court is in the eastern style, having in the centre a
large marble fountain, prettily shaded with orange-trees; and
around it are the church and principal apartments, forming
several suites. Some of the rooms have Arabesque ceilings and
recessed walls, much ornamented with fret-work. These
rooms are, however, far inferior to any thing associated with
our ideas of a palace ; but the deficiency in this respect is more
than compensated by the wild and striking scenery presented
from the terraces of the building. Beneath is a deep and
winding valley, which at first presents, on one side, terraced
gardens, trees, and shrubs, with bold rocks beyond; and on
the opposite side is the town, backed by high and rugged
mountains, through an opening of which the sea is visible in
the distance. 2
About eight hours' journey eastward, on the road to the Bika,
is the monastery of Mar Elias, surrounded by vineyards and
thriving mulberry plantations ; and, at the commencement of
the valley itself, is situated Zahle, one of the principal towns Town of z a hie.
subject to the Druses; it contains nearly 9000 inhabitants,
and 1500 mud-built, terrace-roofed houses, containing one
room, or at most two rooms in each. With the exception of
a few Turkish and some Druse families, the inhabitants are
1 Burckhardt's Travels in Syria, p. 193.
4 See Plate XXIII.