MODERN PENINSULAR TOWN.

117

older historians, but as affording us much light in the study of those prophecies in which Tyre is mentioned.

The situation of Tyre, and of the objects mentioned in the following description of the surrounding country, will be clearly understood by the reader, on referring to the accompanying map, and bearing in mind, that the coast runs almost due north and south.*

The present town, or peninsular Tyre, stands of course to the west of the general line of the coast, and is connected with the shore by an isthmus of sand. Leaving the town, and proceeding eastward, you arrive at two square towers, about one hundred and fifty yards from the gate; the first of which is built over a well, from which the principal supply of water for the inhabitants is obtained; and to which numerous bands of Arab women, carrying their pitchers on their heads, are constantly passing. Within is a flight of steps leading to a terrace at

*While examining this place, I made several plans and sketches, with the intention of constructing a map of the topography of the ancient cities upon my return. I have, however, since found, that an accurate survey of the coast has been made by A. H. Ormesby, Esq. by order of the Admiralty; and through the means of my friend, Lieut. Larcom, R. E. I have been kindly furnished by Capt. Beauford with the chart, upon whose qutline I have transferred my own plans, as well as the recent discoveries of Count de Bertou. I also take this oppormay tunity of expressing to Lieut. Larcom my obligation for the facilities and information he has afforded me, in prosecuting this and other subjects of scientific research.

the top, from which there is an extensive view; and, underneath, there is a Khan for the accommodation of those who do not choose to stop in the town, or who may have arrived late at night. This tower is situated on the isthmus, which is now covered, as I have mentioned, with sea-sand, and the water of the well, which is pure and good, cannot rise here, but is, most probably, conducted by some portions of the aqueduct, which still remain pervious, but hidden beneath the sand and rubbish; and this probability is further strengthened, by the fact of the water becoming in the month of September troubled, and of a reddish colour, synchronous with that of the fountains of Solomon at Ras-el-ain, or "Head of the Spring." The shore presents, on both sides of the peninsula, unequal concavities; that on the southern being the larger and deeper, and running down to the above named fountains in the south-east, and with a very heavy surf rolling in upon it. tower, you see a plain of horizon bounded toward the east by the Lebanon range of mountains. On the north stands Sidon, and following with the eye the line of aqueduct, whose broken arches rise at intervals above the sand, a most remarkable object arrests attention :a solitary mount, of a white appearance, standing above the plain, and crowned by a mosque, a marabut, and one or two old houses, which being whitewashed, glitter in the sun, and attract the

Looking inland from this some miles in extent; its

ROCK OF MARSHUK.

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eye almost involuntarily. It is visible on all sides, and from a great distance, owing to the flatness of the plain; and is instantly remarked by the mariner entering either of the roadsteds of Tyre. Let another authority describe it. "This hill," he says, "is not fictitious like those of the desert, but a natural rock, of about 150 feet in circumference, and about 40 or 50 feet in height." It is called by the natives Marshuk, and from the northern aspect exhibits the appearance of the wood engraving below.

*

*Volney, who first notices this rock, has fallen into a slight error, in stating it to be only a quarter of an hour's walk from the village. It is distant from the water-tower on the isthmus, upwards of a mile and a half.

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ANCIENT AQUEDUCT.

the plain, and runs towards the present town from the north-east, has several of its magnificent arches still perfect, and can be seen at a considerable distance at sea; and the water oozing out at breakages, or filtering through the cement, has encrusted them all over with stalactites of a peculiar form, which give them at a little distance, the appearance of being clothed with some gigantic foliage.

The water was conveyed across the plain on these arches in a trough, at the top lined with cement, and forty-four inches in depth. All the arches are not of the same construction, and are, in all probability, of different dates, as if renewed from time to time. The principal of these are seventeen feet in cord, and the buttresses, eight feet ten inches in breadth, by nine feet three in depth.

Where the sand has encroached, as is the case in some places, the arches are completely obliterated, yet, you can trace the stream-way for a great distance throughout. The aqueduct was evidently repaired at a more recent date, when hydrostatics were better understood. A perfectly water-tight tube of crockery-ware, formed of pieces about two feet long, accurately fitted and cemented into each other, is found connecting the broken parts of the aqueduct, or in some places, laid in the streamway.* The aqueduct runs nearly in a straight line to the north-east, till it arrives at the rock already

* Capts. Irby and Mangles noticed a similar form of aqueduct, connecting the ancient water-course through the city of Petra.

ANCIENT CISTERNS.

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mentioned. This rock, which is about one mile from the nearest point of the sea, is of whitish limestone, sloping towards the north-east, and inaccessible on the south. On the north side, are the remains of steps leading to the top, cut in the solid rock, similar to those in the prophylia leading to the Parthenon at Athens; and from this is obtained a most commanding prospect of the sea and of the surrounding country for a vast distance. At its foot, on the S. and S. E. sides, are the remains of large cisterns or reservoirs, where the aqueduct commences, that runs towards the present town; and to this spot, the aqueduct was brought in as straight a line as the position of the ground would admit, from the cisterns of Solomon, which lie to the southward.

This water-course, after arriving at the rock, was conducted round a third part of its base in a conduit cut through the solid rock; partly bored into a tunnel, and partly roofed over with immense blocks of stone. On getting into this tunnel, I found that it enlarged considerably, and became much deeper than the channel of the aqueduct. It contains a considerable quantity of good and pure water, which supplies the people living in the mosque and in the neighbourhood. It is remarkable, that although it is never known to be dry, there is now no apparent communication between it and the fountains through the remaining aqueduct; and it has all appearance of being a well sunk in the place. It