71
SHOHBA.
formed  a  sort  of  square,  through  which  the  street  runs;  they  are
built  with  square  stones,  are  twelve  feet  long  by  nine  high,  and,  as
appears  by  one  of  them,  which  is  partly  broken  down,  are  quit
solid,  the  centre  being  filled  up  with  stones.  Farther  on  to
the  right,  upon  a  terrace,  stand  five  Corinthian  columns,  two  feet
and  a  quarter  in  diameter,  all  quite  entire.  After  passing  these
columns  I  came  to  the  principal  building  in  this  part  of  the  town;
it  is  in  the  form  of  a  crescent,  fronting  towards  the  east,  without  any
exterior  ornaments,  but  with  several  niches  in  the  front.  I  did  not
venture  to  enter  it,  as  I  had  a  bad  opinion  of  its  present  possessor,
the  chief  of  Shohba,  who  some  years  ago  compelled  M.  Seetzen  to
turn  back  from  hence  towards  Soueida.  I  remained  unknown  to
the  Druses  during  my  stay  at  Shohba.  Before  the  above  mentioned -
  building  is  a  deep  and  large  reservoir,  lined  with  small
stones.  To  the  right  of  it  stands  another  large  edifice  of  a  square
shape,  built  of  massy  stones,  with  a  spacious  gate  ;  its  interior
consists  of  a  double  range  of  vaults,  one  above  the  other,  of  which
the  lower  one  is  choaked  up  as  high  as  the  capitals  of  the  columns
which  support  the  arches.  I  found  the  following  inscription  upon
an  arch  in  the  upper  story  :
...D..  ATAIOTACSAOOT
....OPOCTATTOY
OIKOAOMHOH*  OKO
OC
Beyond  and  to  the  left  of  this  last  mentioned  building,  in  the
same  street,  is  a  vaulted  passage  with  several  niches  on  both  sides
of  it,  and  dark  apartments,  destined  probably  for  the  reception  of
the  bodies  of  the  governors  ofthe  city.  Farther  on  are  the  remaining ¬
  walls  of  a  large  building.  Upon  two  stones,  close  to  each  other,
and  projecting  from  the  wall,  I  read  the  following  inscriptions  :
*Sixodouyoy.  Ed.