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A particular and faithful ACCOUNT of what is most remarkable in the

Manners, Religion, Polity, Antiquities,

AND

Natural Hiftory of those Countries :

WITH A

Curious DESCRIPTION of. JERUSALEM, as it now appears,

And other Places mention'd in the Holy Scriptures. The Whole forming a compleat View of the ancient and modern State of great Part of Europe, Afia, and Africa.

Publish'd from the AUTHOR's original Manufcript, interfpers'd with the REMARKS of feveral other modern Travellers, and illuftrated with Hiftorical, Geographical, and Mifcellaneous Notes by the EDITOR.

Bern'd with MAPS and PRINTS.

VOL. III.

READING,

Printed by J. NEWBERY and C. MICKLE WRIGHT, at the Bible and Crows in the Market-Place. MDCCXLIV.

203. f. 374

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THE

TRAVELS

Of the Late

Charles Thompson, Efq;

D

VOL. HI.

ESCENDING from our agreeable Eminence into the Plain, we were conducted by our Guide round about the Gardens to the East Gate of the City, which was nearest to the Latin Convent, where we propofed to lodge du ring our Stay at Damafcus. As we pafs'd between the Gardens, we obferv'd their Method of fcouring the Channels, which is done by putting a great Bough of a Tree into the Water, and dragging it along by a Yoke of Oxen. The Driver fits or ftands upon the Bough, as well to prefs it down, as to drive the Beafts; and thus they both cleanfe the Bottom, and fatten the Water by stirring up the Mud, so as to render it of greater Advantage to the Gardens. We alfo admired the fingular Structure of the GardenWalls, which confift of huge Pieces of Earth, fhap'd like Bricks, and harden in the Sun. They are each VOL. III. N° XXXIII. A

of

of them two Yards long, one in Breadth, and half a Yard thick. Two Rows of thefe placed edge-ways, one upon another, form the ufual Inclofures in this Country.

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As to the River Barrady, after it has largely contributed to the Beauty and Fertillty of the Fields and Gardens about Damafcus, wherein it lofes great Part of its Waters, the fmall Remnant that efcapes is again united in one Channel, on the South-Eaft Side of the City; and after a Course of a few Hours, it is finally loft in a Morafs, without ever arriving at the Sea. It is well known that the Greeks, and from them the Ro. mans, call'd this River Chryforrboas, which is as much as to fay, the Golden River; but as for thofe Rivers of Damafcus call'd Abana and Pharpar, whereof mention is made in 2 Kings v. 12, there are no Traces of any fuch Names remaining, nor can we tell where to find them, unless two Branches of the Barrady were anciently fo call'd, as it feems reasonable to conje

cture.

On the 28th of February, about Noon, we arriv'd at the Eaft Gate of Damafcus, and went immediately to the Latin Convent, where we were kindly receiv'd by the Superior, a Native of Aix in Provence. Our first Bufinefs was to make a Present to the Turkish Beglerbeg or Viceroy, to pave the Way for a Vifit we intended to make him, in order to procure his

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Favour and Protection whilst we continued in this City; for the Damafcens are a bigotted and infolent People, and have a strange Averfion to the European Chriftians, from whom therefore we had Reason to expect fome injurious Treatment. We fucceeded in our Application to the Turkish Governor according to our Wishes, who gave Orders to an Officer of the Fanizaries to let two of that Body attend us wherever we went, and prevent our being infulted or molefted by the Populace.

THUS guarded, we walk'd out to take a View of the City, the Streets whereof are narrow, as is ufual in hot Countries, and the Houfes built of Brick harden'd by the Heat of the Sun, or only common Clay, in as coarfe a manner as the vileft Cottages, notwithstanding they have Plenty of good Stone in the adjacent Mountains. This dirty way of building is attended with an Inconvenience which we were made fenfibe of by Experience; namely, that upon any hafty Shower fo much Mud is wash'd from the Sides of the Houses, as makes the Streets intolerably nafty. It seems strange, that People fhould affect fuch mean Buildings, when they have Materials at hand fit for the noblest Structures; but the Turks think it to little purpose to build durable Houses, in which their Tenure is so very precarious; and feem particularly averse to making an outfide Shew, left it should prove a Temptation to their Superiors to deprive them of their Poffeffions. The Doors, however, are adorn'd with Marble Portals; and the Infide of the Buildings elegant enough, for there we ufually find a large square Court, beautified with Variety of fragrant Trees, Flowers, and Fountains, and furrounded with fplendid Apartments and Sofa's, where the Turks eat, drink, fmoke, receive Vifits, and loll at their Eafe, taking

i understood in Conformity to "this Eastern Cuftom, as relating to a Token of Respect,

" and not to a Price of Divina* tion." Pag. 26.

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