'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.' [‎523] (612/905)

CHAP. XX.]
PLAIN OF HAMATH.
523
abundant stream, and is surrounded by fields and cultivation. Kanateen.
Subsequently, the great valley leading eastward becomes more
of a desert, frequently having a hard beaten surface, and being
elsewhere scantily covered with grass mixed with the camel-
thorn (retern), kali, and some other plants. The plain, which
varies in width from 10 to 18 miles, is bounded on each side
by a chain of hills running W.S.W. and E.N.E.; that on the
north-west being considerably higher than the other, and
generally it so continues for about 50 miles, when both of them
meet a double range of steep serrated hills, forming another
wide valley which terminates at Deir, and may be considered
as separating Syria from Arabia. At the point of junction, a
pass about 1£ miles in length, traverses the north-western chain,
and connects the two Wadis. At the eastern extremity of this
singular gorge is the necropolis, which is overlooked by a
bold Saracenic castle on the summit of the ridge; and in the
plain to the eastward of the latter, at a spot about midway
between Tyre and Babylon, are the remains of a city no less
remarkable for its commercial importance than its antiquity,
having been founded by Solomon, 1 who, according to Josephus, 2
built this city, encompassed it with very strong walls, and
gave it the name of Tadmor.
Palmyra does not consist of a mere heap of mounds, like the Appearance of
ruins of Akkad, Babylon, Chalne, Nineveh, Sus, and Troy, Palinyra -
with some of which it was no doubt contemporary ; for having
been reconstructed with durable materials, the principal
buildings yet remain to attest its ancient grandeur. The city
of Palms has not, however, the striking boldness of Baalbek,
nor the unique character of Persepolis; nor is its general
aspect equal to the coup-d'ceil of Jerash from the great temple ;
yet from its situation, touching a wide-spreading wilderness on
the one side, and a mountain range rising like a huge wall
abruptly from the plain on the other, it produces, in some
respects, an effect beyond that of the cities just mentioned. It
displays ruined colonnades, temples, and arches, extending about
1 He built Tadmor in the Wilderness, 2 Chron., chap. VHI., v. 4. Ba'aldth
and Tadmor in the Wilderness, 1 Kings, chap. IX., v. 18.
8 Ant., lib. VIII., c. vi.
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