costume, architecture, manners, and natural scenery of the several portions of country described in the chapters to which they are prefixed, and as such it is hoped that they will be approved. The whole of these have been drawn on the wood, by W. H. Brooke, Esq., of Percy Street, an artist of the most distinguished and justly deserved celebrity in this particular branch of his profession, and of exquisite taste and great power in every other department of the labours of the pencil. They have been engraved by different hands, and vary, therefore, in the merit of their execution; but even in this respect they are generally so well executed that they cannot fail to be acceptable. The greatest attraction of the present volume, will, however, undoubtedly be its containing the fullest and most accurate descriptions of numerous ruined towns and cities in the Great Plain of the Hauran, the ancient Auranites, the very names of many of which have not before been made public; as well as faithful pictures of the state of manners in these highly interesting and almost untrodden regions, which are likely to afford matter of agreeable consideration to readers of all classes. In the hope that this portion of my labours will be found still more worthy than preceding ones of the approbation of the world, I consign it to the tribunal of public opinion, to receive its just sentence of neglect, of censure, or of praise. J. S. BUCKINGHAM. Cornwall Terrace, Regent's Park, London, December 1. 1824. ILLUSTRATIONS AT THE HEADS OF CHAPTERS. Chapter 1 View of Mount Tabor and the Plain of Esdraelon...... 3 Interior of an Arab dwelling at Assalt 4 Horsemen and Females at a Fountain....... 5 Encampment of Arabs, East of the Dead Sea...... 6 Tower and Ruins in the Land of Moab. 7 Passage of the River Zerkah, in Bashan................. 8 Mosque between Geraza and Adjeloon............... 9 Village in the Valley of Adjeloon......... Page 1 21 40 60 82 97 112 133 154 19 Scene, near the River Barrady, on leaving Damascus.... 385 20 Castle and Port of Seyda, the ancient Sidon....... 410 21 Roman Road and ancient Sculptures on the Coast of Syria... 434 27 Modern aspect of the City of Antioch............. 28 General Character of the Entrances to Saracen Cities...... 501 519 538 556 578 |