1508; 19th December, 1797; 3rd November, 1817; and 28th November, 1836, when a great many of the houses at Damascus were destroyed, and upwards of three hundred persons perished by the falling in of the roofs; and the caravan of Mount Lebanon was also rendered impassable for six weeks.

When the wind blows from the north and west, being laden with moisture from the Mediterranean, the copious dews supply the place of the rains; and the wisdom of Him that made "the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night," has so ordered it, that as the rains decrease, the dews increase; and so also the deposition is greater when the temperature of the day has been raised, so that the soil brings forth abundantly. When the rains increase, then the south wind from the desert assists in curbing it, and establishing the balance. These dews commence soon after sunset, and continue until sunrise, during the greater part of the year; but in January they fall towards morning. In February they commence about the middle of the month, but do not acquire that intensity peculiar to an eastern clime until the latter part of May, the whole of June, July, August, and the commencement of September. Travellers should be careful not to expose themselves to the influence of the dew; for often, when we have been travelling in Syria, "there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground," so that our clothes were bathed, as it were, with its moisture.

Hoar-frost is rare, except on the lower range of Lebanon; but it may be observed occasionally during some of the severe mornings of December, January, and April.

Fogs, or mists, are more frequent in October, November, and January-lasting from four to six or eight hours, occurring for three or four consecutive days, and being very dense.

The mirage, which is called Suhráỏ, or "water of the desert," by the Arabs, may be frequently observed, when travelling in the desert plains of Syria, with

"Some great caravan, from well to well, Winding as darkness on the desert fell," parched by thirst, with a glowing atmo sphere around, and no water at hand. Suddenly the traveller observes a beautiful lake before him, with villages and verdant groves, or clumps of trees reflected on the surface; and he presses forward to cool his swollen and parched tongue, and bathe his horse's feet, but the illusion recedes faster than he can approach; and only then he discovers the mockery of his misery-he has chased the mirage, which has so oft deceived thousands of dying and thirst-distressed travellers.

It would render this already lengthy sketch of the climate of Syria still more prolix, were I to enter into detail with respect to such matters as the clouds, water-spouts (which, however, are very common), purity of the atmosphere, fall of aërolites, &c.; but it is necessary to notice some other subjects, of importance to travellers.

The duration of the longest day, at Baalbec, is 14h. 30m.; at Beyrout, 14h. 20m.; and at Acre, Tripoli, Latikia, Jaffa, and Mount Carmel, 14h.; and the duration of the twilight, throughout Syria, averages from 1h. 36m. to 1h. 24m.

The Shurkiyeh, which corresponds to the Phoenicias, Phoenix, and Leuco-notus of the ancients; and the Sirocco, Scirocco, Schirocco, or Siroc of the Italians, so called because they suppose it blows direct from Syria to their coast, comes from a point of the compass a little to the southward of S. E.-SS. E.; being 67° 30' from the north point.

It occurs more frequently in the harvest season than any other period of the year, and the mean of its frequency for each month throughout the year, is as follows:

frequently re-open, spread, and become indolent; nervous diseases, and diseases of the skin, are aggravated; and vaccination fails.

Its effect upon inorganic bodies is also remarkable: the walls and roofs of houses, pavements, and stone floors, the decks of ships, and sails, are covered with such an abundance of moisture, as to lead to the supposition that a smart shower had fallen a short time before. Clothes appear as if wrung out in water, iron cannot be made into well-tempered steel, and veneered articles often give way.

Its effect upon the healthy animal system requires noticing. A few minutes after exposure to its influence, the skin is covered with a profuse perspiration, which, remaining on the surface, causes it to be clammy; every fibre appears relaxed; there is great lassitude, heaviness, oppression, and a feeling of suffocation, general restlessness, irritability, great thirst, loss of appetite, sometimes distressing headache, and inaptitude for corporeal or mental exertion; so that when an Italian wishes to express his disapprobation of a work, he exclaims-" Era scritto in tempo del sirocco"-"It was written during the time of the sirocco." The enervating action of this wind may be ascribed, without doubt, to the development of electricity arising from the meeting of the south and north winds, and the extraordinary difference of temperature between them.

When the human system is diseased, its effect is very remarkable. Bronchitis, ophthalmia, and dysentery, are much aggravated; fevers assume a low character; wounds put on an angry appearance; ulcers, that have previously cicatrized,

Luke xii. 55.

Horses, camels, mules, &c., perspire profusely; dogs and cats are restless and dozy; sheep and cows appear dull, and refuse their food, and all seem prostrated by it.

The best method to moderate its effects is that employed by the natives: sprinkling the floor or ground with water; placing pans of water at the doors and windows, which are kept shut; and hanging up wet clothes, sheets, sails, &c., in various parts of the house, so as to supply as much moisture as possible.

Although the Shurkiyeh is the prevailing hot wind of Syria, still it is visited by the hot Khamsin, from the SS. W., which imparts a purplish hue to the atmosphere; and by the Samiel, from the S. E., which is synonymous with the Simoom of the desert, and contains a larger amount of azote.

Calms are rare for a longer period than ten or twelve hours, as a morning and evening breeze is sure to set in a fact that should be remembered by travellers.

As we were desirous of witnessing the marriage feast of a peasant at Beyrout, we bade adieu to Djouni; and after a brisk ride, we arrived at the spot where the wedding festivities were going on with great spirit.

The scene was a novel one for us, and we were much amused. The bridegroom was a fisherman, and had been married that day to the dark-eyed daughter of a shop-keeper, without having seen each other before. Custom is everything; but

such a method of disposing of our fair beauties would not answer.

A fine, handsome young fellow, with more money than generally falls to the lot of Arabs, sought a wife, according to the custom of the land, and fell in love with the lady's ankles-because he was not permitted to see her face! The day arrived; the bridal procession, headed by a buffoon mounted on a horse, who, dressed in an absurd manner, performed the most approved and extravagant antics; the drums were beaten with more than common zeal; the swordsmen engaged in the mock fight kept the bride broiling in the sun longer than usual; the dancing-men, musicians, and assemblage of relations shouted, sang, and played with great vigour. In the centre, the bride, entirely covered with a red shawl, walked between two other females, under a canopy of silk supported by four poles; while a woman, walking backwards, constantly fanned her; crowds of men and children followed and surrounded the procession to the house. In the evening, the bonfires blazed; the cressets cast a cheerful light around; the Ziraleet and music sounded shrilly and merrily; but one alone was sad, that should have been happy, the happiest of all-the bridegroom-for his bride was old and ugly, and had but one eye! Such cases as this are by no means uncommon, and must, at any rate, be expected; and the man's only chance of getting rid of his bargain, is to divorce her.

The spot chosen for the nuptial festivities, was on a sloping ground, near to Beyrout. The old walls of the town, bearing proofs of British cannonading, and the range of Lebanon, formed the back-ground, and some houses with people standing on the top to witness the gay scene. Tents were erected, under whose shade the female friends were collected; a group of mountaineers were standing near to witness the antics of two hired buffoons, while another group of more intimate friends fired a volley several times; near to where we reclined and drank our coffee, a sheep, stuffed with pistachios, was roasted whole; and before us three crabbed men sat, and watched

with wistful and alternate glances the savoury meal, and three musicians that were singing close at hand.

The epithalamium was a doleful kind of a ditty, notwithstanding it contained some most desperate love sentences, such as "By Allah! I am consumed with love!"

"Thy black eyes have made me mad!" 'Beloved of my heart, honey is on your lips, your glances have intoxicated me!" And the musical instruments were noisy and harsh, as all of them are, which is the more extraordinary, as the Syrians are remarkably fond of music, and even when employed in the fields, or carrying goods, rowing, and sawing, they regulate their motions by songs and chaunts, and always pay great attention to any European performances, or musical instruments. Their system of music is peculiar

the tones being divided into thirds, which renders the style confined, plaintive, and simple.

Having presented our wedding gifts of loaves of sugar, coffee, and tobacco, we seated ourselves on the ground, and witnessed the dancing and feasting, not omitting to partake of some of the roasted sheep, with the pistachio stuffing.

Now all this feasting and display does not cost the bridegroom much; indeed it is the usual method of providing a stock to commence life with: for the more friends he has, the more loaves of sugar and bags of coffee and tobacco he gets; and his only expenses, or nearly so, are for the musicians, buffoons, fruit, and meat.

To horse, to horse! the feast has ended, the sloping mounds and sandy plain are being deserted, and

"Now greenwoods blush red, and the night-star's encroaching;

Slow climbs the dark shadow up the eastern hills;

The gray-winged twilight by stealth is encroaching,

Farewell, ye wild songsters, ye lambkins and rills."

in derision, how it happened that men of wit were A WEALTHY person asked the philosopher Sadi, so frequently seen at the doors of the rich, and that the rich were never seen at the doors of men of wit? "It is," replied Sadi, "because men of wit know the value of riches; but rich men do not know the value of wit."