HOWASH. 
134 
Kalaat el Medyk to near Djissr Shogher: its breadth is about two 
hours, but becomes narrower towards the north ; it is watered by 
the Aaszy (l), or Orontes, which flows near the foot of the west 
ern mountain, where it forms numerous marshes. The inhabitants 
of El Ghab are a mongrel race of Arabs and Fellahs, and are 
called Arab el Ghab. They live in winter time in a few villages dis 
persed over the valley, of which they cultivate only the land adjacent 
to their villages; on the approach of hot weather they retire with 
their cattle to the eastern mountains, in search of pasture, and in 
order to escape the immense swarms of flies and gnats (), which 
infest the Ghab in that season. In the winter the Aaszy inundates 
a part of the low grounds through which it flows, and leaves many 
small lakes and ponds; the valley is wateréd also by numerous 
springs and by rivulets, which descend from the mountains, especially 
from those on the east. To the N. of Tel Aankye, on the E. side 
towards Djissr Shogher, which is eight hours distant from Aankye, 
are the springs Ayn Bet Lyakhom), Ayn Keleydyn 
), Shaouryt (), Kastal Hadj Assaf (i gle), 
Djob Soleyman (), Djob el Nassouh-(), Djob Tel 
el Tyn(e). 
Having passed to the left of Aankye, where is a small village, we 
continued our road up the valley due south ; we passed near the 
spring Ayn el Aankye; in a quarter of an hour farther Ayn el 
Kherbe, and at the same distance farther south, the copious spring 
Ayn el Howash), from whence we turned to the right 
into the plain, and at the end of four hours and three quarters from 
El Bara, reached the village Howash, where we alighted at the 
Sheikh’s house. 
February 21st.—Howash is the principal village of the Ghab ; it 
is situated on the borders of a small lake, formed by the rivulet of 
Ayn el Howash. The surrounding country was at this time for