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food, and the pestilential air of the neighbourhood, revenged on the Turks the wrongs done to the Syrians. The success of the Egyptian leader is sure to benefit Antioch and its territory; security, order, and confidence, the fruits of a strict and tolerant government, are now enjoyed in a far greater degree: the cruel bigotry of the people is kept in awe, if it cannot be suppressed, by the presence of an Egyptian garrison, among whom are several European officers. Ibrahim, having strengthened his force by the Syrian levies, left Antioch, at length, to fight his last and great battle of Koniah; he next occupied the province of Adana, where he remained till October, establishing, as he had done in Syria, order in the province, securing possession of the towns, and preparing for his descent into Asia Minor through the mountain passes of Caramania. These passes are of great natural strength: the Asiatic troops defended them, but Ibrahim carried them almost by a coup de main, and defeated a large body of Turks who had taken up their position in the northern extremity of the mountains. His army then passed down into the extensive plains of Asia Minor, not more than 20,000 men, with twenty-five pieces of artillery, to achieve the conquest of the Ottoman empire, and enter Constantinople victorious; both which splendid results, but for the sudden intervention of Rusia, he would have accomplished.

THE PASS OF SOUK BARRADA.

The neighbourhood of Damascus is rich in attractive excursions: if the stranger seek a wild contrast, a swift and perfect transition, he can issue from the labyrinth of gardens into the desert, and lose himself in its vast and solitary plains. Or he can seek more hallowed ground, where, a few leagues distant, on a high hill, is the Greek convent of Saint Thecla, the beautiful and canonized disciple of St. Paul, and the female protomartyr: all around, the rocks are cut into niches and grottoes. In another direction is the Greek convent of Sidonaia, situated at the farther end of a large vale, on the top of a rock this was once a bishop's see, and he resided in the convent. About twelve miles to the north-west of Damascus is a high and steep mountain, surmounted by a ruined church, built over the spot where it is said Cain buried Abel; the legend is, that the fratricide carried the corpse for some time on his back, not knowing how to dispose of it, till he saw a raven making a hole in the ground to bury one of his own species, which gave him the hint to inter his brother. The few remains of this church are very ancient and interesting. Further north, and at the distance of seven hours from the city, is the pleasant village of Ain Fijji, at the end of a beautiful and well-cultivated vale. Its river is one of the coolest in the world: it issues from the limestone rock, a deep and rapid stream of about thirty feet wide: it is pure and cold as iced water, and after coursing down a stony and rugged channel for about a hundred yards, falls into the Barrada, where it loses both its name and its beauty. The Barrada is the ancient Pharpar of Scripture, to which Naaman made an exulting allusion, when commanded

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W. II. BarBett

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