‘The travels of Sig. Pietro della Valle, a noble Roman, into East-India and Arabia Deserta. In which, the several countries, together with the customs, manners, traffique, and rites both religious and civil, of those Oriental princes and nations, are faithfully described: In familiar letters to his friend Signior Mario Schipano. Whereunto is added a relation of Sir Thomas Roe’s voyage into the East-Indies’ [‎280] (301/508)

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The Travels of Peter Delia Vallc,
pani'd me thither, and chofenot the direft way to
which the Caravans commonly ufe, but one fomewhat longer
hard by Antiocb, out of a defire to fee the remains of that ancient
City which I had not yet feen. After a (hort travel, we refted
till the Moon arofe, and then proceeded all the remainder of the
night in bad and uneven ways.
^Augnfi the twenty fourth, We pafs'd by fome Villages and
places cultivated with Olive-trees, which 1 was joyful to fee, not
having beheld any for many years. ^ About Noon, we refted
amongft certain ruins of Stone-buildings which had once been
very magnificent, and feem'd to be the remains of fome noble
City in ancient times. Here the Archbifhop ifciva-jahrfs men,
the one nam'd Abdifciva, and the other Hendi^ overtook me with
his Letter: I receiv'd them, and carri'd them with me as I had
promis'd. The faid place is call'd Hhalqa, which fignifies a Circle,
becaufe 'tis a great Plain almoft furrounded with Hills. Three
hours after Noon we fet forth again ^ we pafs'd by another Vil
lage belonging to the Territory of Hhalqa, and at night took up
our Quarters near a running Water under another Village call'd
Harta. At midnight the Moon rifing, we fet forth again, and
travell'd all the remainder of the night.
the twenty fifth. Continuing our journey we camein-
to a great Plain, and travelling along the River Orontes accord
ing to theftream ,(which we had found at day-breakj we crofs'd
over the fame upon a good Stone-bridge. Here the Plain is con-
traced, being ftreightned on tHe right hand with high, and on
the left with lower mountains 5 travelling in which Valley about
Noon, we arriv'd at which is fronted with high moun
tains almoft on the North beyond the River Orontes^ and back'd
with lower toward the South, the walls of the City being ex
tended over the fame. Weenter'd at the Eaft-gate, and took
up our Quarters near a great Ciftern which is on the left hand of
the Cate,divided only by a wall from the Street,and pavM round
with white Marble ; it is fill'd by a running-water, and ftands in
a {hady retir'd place, very delightful and convenient for travel
lers to reft in. On the right fide of the faid Gate, in one of the
Towers of the wall,wasa large and fair room, as high as the wall,
with few windows befides low and half-fill'd loop-holes for de
fence 5 fo that it was very cool,and would not be inconvenient in
hot hours, were it in good repair 5 but 'tis now all ruinous with
out a pavement, being made only a Stall for Cattle. The walk
of the City were ftill (landing, all of Stone, magnificent, and
built with Turrets after the ancient mode. At the Gate where
we enter'd, began a Street not very broad but of great length,
extended within the City, and pav'd all with white Marble. An*
tioch is now inhabited by few people, who live in little cottages
patcht out of the ruins amongft Gardens, of which theCityisall
full ^ for of the ancient houles and ftruftures, faving the walls
of the City, there is none ftanding. Near the place where we
lodg'dj