'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.' [‎543] (634/905)

CHAP. XXI.] POSTERITY OF THE FIRST SYRIANS. 543
that they are attached to paganism, which is not tolerated by As^ins.
that people. 1 They implicitly obey, to the extent of life and
death, a chief called Sheikh-al-Hashishin, and they have
acquired several strong-holds in the mountains of Tripoli; but
Persia is the principal seat of the Assassins, whose name is
now supposed to have been derived from the intoxicating herb
Hacchis-shin, 2 and to have no connexion with the story of the
old man of the mountain. The Ismaili are reported to adore
the pudendum, and, on certain days, to mix in promiscuous
debauchery; but whatever in reality may be the nature of
their rites, their faith is so carefully concealed, that even the
contents of their religious books are only known by those who
are fully initiated. 3
It is not improbable that the territory at the south-western Descendants
extremity of the Pashalik of Aleppo contains a tribe of sy r tns earlie8t
Syrians, who are the descendants of the earliest people of the
country: they occupy the ravines on the northern slopes of
Jebel-el-Akrab, and Anti-Casius, as well as some of those on
Mount Rhosus and the Amanus; and they live in small
secluded villages. Their houses usually have sloping roofs,
covered with tiles; and the better kind contain two small
rooms for the family, with others for the animals; but in
general there is only a single apartment, one end of which is
appropriated to the animals, and the other to the family; a
kind of separation being formed by a row of high conical
earthen vessels, called kowari, which contain grain, flour, &c.
The building is either of wood and clay, or rubble masonry; Their manners
and is frequently within or adjoining a mulberry-garden. t ^ s occupa "
Agriculture, and the care of silk-worms, with the preparation
of silk—which last is chiefly performed by women and chil
dren—are the occupations of the people. They have some
good horses, and numerous bullocks for farming purposes.
The dress of these Syrians consists of a coarse muslin turban,
twisted round the head, like that of the Bedawins; also a
long and coarse cloak, of white woollen, with common boots.
Burckhardt's Syria, pp. 151, 152. 8 Cannabis Indica.
3 Burckhardt's Travels in Syria, p. 151.