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DESCRIPTION  OF  A  JOURNEY  FROM  DAMASCUS
THROUGH  THE  MOUNTAINS  OF  ARABIA  PETRAEA,
AND  THE  DESERT  EL  TY,  TO  CAIRO;
IN  THE  SUMMER  OF  1812.
WISHING  to  obtain  a  further  knowledge  of  the  mountains  to  the
east  of  the  Jordan,  and  being  still  more  desirous  of  visitingthe  almost
unknown  districts  to  the  east  of  the  Dead  sea,  as  well  as  of  exploring ¬
  the  country  which  lies  between  the  latter  and  the  Red  sea,  I
resolved  to  pursue  that  route  from  Damascus  to  Cairo,  in  preference
to  the  direct  road  through  Jerusalem  and  Ghaza,  where  I  could
not  expect  to  collect  much  information  important  for  its  novelty.
Knowing  that  my  intended  way  led  through  a  diversity  of  Bedouin
tribes,  I  thought  it  advisable  to  equip  myself  in  the  simplest  manner. ¬
  I  assumed  the  most  common  Bedouin  dress,  took  no  baggage
with  me,  and  mounted  a  mare  that  was  not  likely  to  excite  the  cupidity ¬
  of  the  Arabs.  After  sun-set,  on  the  18th  of  June,  1812,  I
left  Damascus,  and  slept  that  night  at  Kefer  Souse,  a  considerable
village,  at  a  short  distance  from  the  city-gate,  in  the  house  of  the
guide  whom  I  had  hired  to  conduct  me  to  Tabaria.
Kefer  Souse  )  is  noted  for  its  olive  plantations;  and  the
oil  which  they  produce  is  esteemed  the  best  in  the  vicinity  of  Damascus. ¬

June  19th.—In  one  hour  we  passed  the  village  Dareya  (C)s);