'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.' [‎505] (594/905)

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CHAP. XX.j RUINS OF PHCENESUS. 505
pitch their tents with the same degree of security which this
country gave them in the time of Herod's government. 1
Towards the S.S.E. limits of this remarkable country Ruins at Mis-
are the villages of Darra, Djeha, and Keine el Loehf, at theS s orPhoe *
last of which are some ruins and inscriptions. In the centre ^
are those of Anchere, Deir Dhami, Stir, Djeddel, and Dama,
the last being the principal place, and at its northern limits
are the ruins of ancient Phcenesus, now the deserted town of
Missema. Its walls have a circumference of nearly three
miles, and it contains the ruins of several public buildings,
amongst which may be noticed those of a handsome temple
with a Doric portico, and a roof supported by four Corinthian
columns ; some inscriptions are also found on the spot. About
a mile to the eastward there is a conical-shaped solid stone
building, 24 feet in circumference and 15 feet high, with a
spiral staircase outside leading to the top; but no inscription
was found to show whether the structure was sepulchral or
had some other object.
Towards the north-western limits of the district are the vil- Ancient build-
lages and ruins of Zebair, Zebir, Adzim, Sur, and some other kT at Zebair '
inconsiderable places, which are alike ruinous, and apparently
similar in construction; they are here called Haush, meaning
a defensible village. In general there is a square watch-tower >
of three stories a little way outside of the walls, and within
are some paved streets. The better sort of the dwellings have
one court, and sometimes a second, with apartments about it;
but in general the houses are small, with heavy roofs of stone
slabs, which are of sufficient length to reach from the side
walls to the top of one which extends along the middle of the
building, or to the top of an elliptical arch supported by
columns, in a like position. The doors are, or were, of one
slab of cut stone, seven inches thick, turning on stone pivots,
let into the cap and ground sills; and an iron chain passing
through slanting apertures secured the door inside.
In addition to the preceding places, there are three which
are more considerable, vi?., Shagra, Keratha, and Ezra. The
VOL. I.
Jos., Ant., XVI., chap, ix., s. 1.
3 T