'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.' [‎509] (598/905)

CHAP. XX.]
BOZRA.
509
containing a Birket, with some inscriptions, and about 400
families.
On the south-western slope of Jebel Haouran is Aaere, one Aaere.
of the principal Druse villages, situated upon a Tell; and five
miles southward is the ruined village of Smurrin, with an
insulated tower near it, bearing an inscription, and overlooking
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Zedi.
About two miles southward of this place is Betser (Bezer), Remains at
now Bostra, or Bozra, 1 also called Busrah, or Eski Sham, the Bozra '
principal city of the Haouran, formerly the capital of Arabia
Provincial but, according to Ptolemy, the last town of note in
Arabia Petrsea. It contains the mosque ascribed to Omar-el-
Khattab, a great many ruined houses, an extensive reservoir,
some triumphal arches, the remains of a fine Corinthian temple,
portions of the walls, and other ruins, on which are several
inscriptions in Greek and Cufic. 3 A little way north-eastward
of the town, is the famous mosque El Mebrak, 4 and beyond
the southern wall, a strongly-built Saracenic castle, con
taining the usual number of vaults and subterraneous pas
sages, with a deep ditch around.
A little way northward of the centre of the district, seated Town of Ka-
upon a declivity above the deep Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Kanouat, stand the noua '
upper and lower portions of the town of that name, once
Kawgitta, which has a circumference of about two miles, and
whose numerous ruins are almost covered with oak-trees. The
ancient remains chiefly consist of a Corinthian colonnade, two
temples, and some other buildings, in addition to a few double-
storied towers in different parts of the town. The principal
street is well paved with flat lozenge-shaped stones placed
lengthways.
Towards the northern termination of the hill is Shohba,
the principal seat of the Druses. The walls and eight gates
of ancient Dioiiysius remain, with streets paved like those of
1 Dr. Zunz on the Geography of Palestine, p. 401.
s D'Anville's Ancient Geography, vol., I., p. 431.
3 Burckhardt's Travels in Syria, p. 226 to 236.
4 Built on the spot where the camel, which bore the Kordn of 'Othman, lay
down.—Ibid., 235.