TABARIA.
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nate in a perpendicular cliff, which is basaltish with an upper stratum ¬
of calcareous rock ; and the shore changes from the direction
SW. by S. to that of S. by E. In the angle stands the miserable
village El Medidel ), one hour distant from Ain-et-Tin,
and agreeing both in name and position with the ancient Magdala. -
The Wady Hammam, in which stands the Kalaat ibnMaan, -
branches off from Medjdel. Proceeding from hence the
shore of the lake is overgrown with Defle (Solanum furiosum), and
there are several springs close to the water’s side. At the end of
two hours and a quarter from Ain-et-Tin, we reached Tabaria
(5).
June 23d.—There being no Khan for travellers at Tabaria I
went to the Catholic priest, and desired him to let me have the
keys of the church, that I might take up my quarters there ; he
gave them to me, but finding the place swarming with vermin, I
removed into the open churchyard.
Tabaria, the ancient Tiberias,* stands close to the lake, upon a
small plain, surrounded by mountains. Its situation is extremely
hot and unhealthy, as the mountain impedes the free course of the
westerly winds which prevail throughout Syria during the summer. -
Hence intermittent fevers, especially those of the quartan
form, are very common in the town in that season. Little rain
falls in winter, snow is almost unknown on the borders of the
lake, and the temperature, on the whole, appears to be very
nearly the same as that of the Dead sea. The town is surrounded ¬
towards the land by a thick and well built wall, about
twenty feet in height, with a high parapet and loop-holes. It surrounds -
the city on three sides, and touches the water at its two
* Tel el Faras, the southern extremity of Djebel Heish, bears from a point above Tabaria ¬
N. E. by E.
