MASZYAD.
150
which  we  crossed  several  torrents,  we  reached  the  castle  of  Maszyad
),  or,  as  it  is  written  in  the  books  of  the  Miri,  Meszyaf
a).  The  approach  to  the  castle  on  two  sides  is  across  a  large
moor;  to  the  N.  of  it  are  the  highest  points  of  the  mountain  of
Maszyad,  at  the  foot  of  which  it  stands,  upon  a  high  and  almost
perpendicular  rock,  commanding  the  wild  moor  in  every  direction,
and  presenting  a  gloomy  romantic  landscape.  On  the  W.  side
is  a  valley,  where  the  inhabitants  cultivate  wheat  and  barley.  The
town  of  Maszyad  is  built  between  the  castle  and  the  mountain,  on
the  declivity  of  the  mountain  ;  it  is  upwards  of  half  an  hour  in  circumference, ¬
  but  the  houses  are  in  ruins,  and  there  is  not  a  single
well  built  dwelling  in  the  town,  although  stone  is  the  only  material
used.  The  town  is  surrounded  by  a  modern  wall,  and  has  three
stone  gates,  of  more  ancient  construction;  on  one  of  them  I  saw
the  following  inscription  :
a  lis
The  last  line,  as  I  was  told  by  a  man  of  Tripoli,  contains  the  names
of  some  of  the  deities  of  the  Ismaylys.  The  mosque  is  now  in
ruins.  There  are  several  Arabic  inscriptions  in  different  parts  of
the  town,  which  are  all  of  the  time  of  El  Melek  el  Dhaher  (
l).  The  castle  is  surrounded  by  a  wall  of  moderate  thickness;
and  contains  a  few  private  habitations.  Near  the  entrance,  which
is  arched,  stands  a  Corinthian  capital,  of  indifferent  workmanship,
the  only  remain  of  Grecian  architecture  that  I  saw  here.  Within
this  gate  is  an  arched  passage,  through  which  the  road  ascends  to
the  inner  and  highest  parts  of  the  castle.  Upon  the  vault  I  read
the  following  inscription  in  large  characters  :  —s