ZAHOUET  EL  KHUDHER.
95
plain.  One  hour  from  these  ruins  a  rivulet  called  Moiet  Maaz
Clec)  passes  through  the  valley,  whose  source  is  to  the  N.  W.  up
in  the  mountain,  one  hour  distant,  near  a  ruined  place  called  Maaz.
This  is  a  very  romantic,  secluded  spot;  immediately  behind  the
town  the  valley  closes,  and  a  row  of  willows,  skirting  both  banks  of
the  rivulet  in  its  descent,  agreeably  surprise  the  traveller,  who  rarely
meets  in  these  districts  with  trees  raised  by  the  labour  of  man  ;  but
it  is  probable  that  these  willows  will  not  long  withstand  the  destroying ¬
  hands  of  the  Arabs:  fifteen  years  ago  there  was  a  larger
plantation  here,  which  was  cut  down  for  fire  wood  ;  and  every
summer  many  of  the  trees  share  the  same  fate.
Zahouet  el  Khudher  was  formerly  visited  by  the  Christians  of  the
Haouran,  for  the  purpose  of  offering  up  their  prayers  to  the  Khudher, -
  or  St.  George,  to  whom  a  church  in  the  bottom  of  the  valley
is  dedicated.  The  Turks  also  pay  great  veneration  to  this  Saint,
so  much  so  that  a  few  goats-hair  mats,  worth  five  or  six  piastres,
which  are  left  on  the  floor  of  the  sanctuary  of  the  church,  are  safe
from  the  robbers.  My  Druse  guides  carried  them  to  a  house  in
the  town,  to  sleep  upon;  but  returned  them  carefully  on  the  following ¬
  morning.  The  Arabs  give  the  name  of  Abd  Maaz  to  St.
George.  The  church  has  a  ruined  cupola.  On  the  outer  door
is  this  inscription  :
ATIE  TEQOPTIE  HIPOLAEZAI  EXO
XALTIKON  TON  IIPOLENETKONTA
ETXAIE  TOT  AIATHPHEON  KAI  KOMHTI  AAE
XQ(  ANXIIXTEIN  AITHEON.
On  an  arch  in  the  vestibule
SS
193
W)