Iliiii

JUL 19 1960

WEST ViRGiTilA UiMIVERSITY
RilEDICAL CEs^iTER LIBRARY

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THE

NATURAL HISTORY

O F

ALEPPO,

AND

PARTS ADJACENT.

CONTAINING

A IJe SCRIPT I ON of the CITY, and the Principal
Natural Productions in its Neighbourhood ;

TOGETHER WITH

An Account of the Climate, Inhabitants, and Diseases;
paiticulary of the PLAGUE, with the Methods ufed by the
Europeans for their Prefervation.

By ALEX. RUSSELL, M. D.

LONDON:

Prirted for A. Millar, in the Strand.
M D-€ C e L-¥^i

17 56 c.s^^':j.

K ' ' b '3

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Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2009 with funding from

Lyrasis IVIembers and Sloan Foundation

http://www.archive.org/details/naturalhistoryofOOruss

^*v^^>

T O

ALEXANDER DRUMMOND Efq; Consul,

THE GENTLEMEN OF THE BRITISH
FACTORY AT ALEPPO,

AND

THOSE NOW IN ENGLAND WHO HAVE

FORMERLY RESIDED AT THAT PLACE,

THE FOLLOWING SHEETS ARE,

WITH THE DEEPEST SENSE OF
GRATITUDE AND ESTEEM,

INSCRIBED

B Y

THE AUTHOR.

j4dvertifement

THE Author's intention, when he firft
began to digeft his materials, was only
to exhibit an account of the epidemic dif-
eafes at Aleppo^ particularly of the plague,
which raged three years in that city during
his refidence therein. A long and extenfive
prailice among all ranks and degrees of
people, had furniihed him with the means of
being perfeftly well acquainted with the cuf-
toms and manners of the inhabitants. The
neio^hbourhood of this place, its fite, and na-
tural productions, he found had not been fo
fully defcribed, but that there ftill was room
left for improvement. Inftead, therefore, of
confining himfelf fingly to fo much of the
general hiftory of the place as might be fuf-^
ficient for the purpofe of his profellion, he
has entered into the fubjeft more at large,
and has endeavoured to prefent the reader

with
8

VI Advertifement,

with a fuccin61:, but at the fame time an
exad: account of fuch things relative thereto
as feemed moft to merit attention. It muft
however be remembered that his obferva-
tions are confined to one city, and its envi-
rons only. Other places, and thofe too at
no great diftance, may have other cuftoms 5
and to this it may be afcribed, that different
writers on the head of the cuftoms of eaftern
nations prefent us with very different ac-
counts.

When it is confidered that the Author re-
fided many years abroad, and converfed
daily in other languages more than in his
own, which he had but little ieifure to cul-
tivate, the defefe in his ftile, it is hoped,
will be forgiven.

In the plates he has not only endeavoured
to give an idea of the various dreffes of the
people, but a view of their furniture, habi-
tations, and amufements.

2 The

Advertifement , vii

r

The birds and fifties here delineated are
fuch as, to the beft of the Author's know-
ledge, have not before been properly repre-
fented, and thofe of the plants are chiefly o£
the fame kind. So many of the Arabic names
of thefe as were coUedted, would have been
given, had it been poffible to have exprefled
them juftly in Englijh charafters, or eafy to
have had them correcSlly printed in Arabic 'y
in which language, it muft be obferved, all
the names of places, 'i§c, in this work are
given, unlefs mentioned to be other wife.

The different fubje£ts in the firft part v/ere
intended to have been pointed out, by vary-
ing the running-title according to the fub-
jeS: ; but, by miftake, this was omitted till
too late.

The method ufed by the Europeans for
their prefervation during the rage of a pefti-
lence was chiefly intended for the ufe of the

Author's

viii Advertifementi

Author's friends in Aleppo^ to whom it was
prefented on his leaving that country. To
thofe in Europe he finccrely wifhes that it
may never otherwife be ufeful than to fa-
tisfy their curiofity.

How far the Author's abilities have been
equal to the talk he has undertaken, the
public will judge ; and he intreats their
candour. That he has had fair opportunities
of obferving, that he has given a faithful
narrative ot fa^ts, and that he has ufed no
falfe colouring in his reprefentation, he pre-
fijmcs to appeal to his cotemporaries and ac-
quaintance, who, in vifiting thefe places
again in his defcription, may perhaps call to
mind many agreeable hours they have ipent
even in thele fcenes, fo far diftant from their
native country.

A

DESCRIPTION

OF T H £

CITY of ALEPPO,

AND

THE PARTS ADJACENT.

PART I.

HA L E B, or, as we call it, Aleppo^ the prefent
metropolis of Syria^, though greatly inferior
to the cities of Conjiajitinople and Cairo m
extent, number of inhabitants, riches, and perhaps
feveral other circumftances, yet, in refped: to buildings,
yields to none in the Turkijh empire.

This city and fuburbs ftand on eight fmall hills or
eminences, none of them confiderable, except that in

* Thought to be the ancient Beraa, Beroe, or Berrhaa.

B the

2 A DESCRIPTION of t ii e

the middle of the place, on which the caftle is ereded.
This mount is of a conic form, and feems, in a great
meafure, to be artificial, and raifed with the earth
thrown up out of a broad deep ditch that furrounds it.
l^he fuburbs, called Sheih H Arab, to the N. N. E.
are next in height to this, and thofe to the W. S. W. are
much lower than the parts adjacent, and than any
other parts of the city.

An old wall not a little decayed, and a broad ditch
now in moft places turned into gardens, furround the
city, the circumference of which is about three miles
and an half ; but, including the fuburbs, which are
chiefly to the North Eaft, the whole may be about
{<:.\^\\ miles*.

The houfes, are compofed of apartments, on each of
the fldes, of a fquare court all of ftone, and coniifl of
a ground floor which is generally arched, ajid an upper
ftory which is flat on the top, and either terraced with
hard plaifter, or paved with Hone. Their ceilings are
of wood neatly painted, and fometimes gilded, as are
alfo the window-fliutters, the pannels of fome of their
rooms, and the cupboard doors, of which they have
a great number : thefe, taken together, have a very

* Two hours and four minutes on horfcbatk, in the ufual way of riding for plea-
fuif, which, I am apt to believe, is nearer four miles than three and an half per hour.

1 agreeable

CITY OF ALEPPO. 3

agreeable effe6l. Over the doors and windows within
thehoufes of the Turks, are infcribed pafl'ages out of the
Koran, or verfes either of their own compofition, or
taken from fome of their nioft celebrated poets. The
Chrijiians generally borrow theirs from fcriptiire.

In all their houfes the court yard is neatly paved,
and, for the mofl part, has a balon with a jet d' can
in the middle, on one or both lides of which, a fmall
fpot is left unpaved lor a fort of garden, which olten
does not exceed a yard or two fquare ; the verdure,
however, which is here produced, together with the
addition of a few flowers in pots, and the fountains
playing, would be a very agreeable Tight to the paf-
fenger, if there were openings to the ftreet through
which thefe might be difcovered, but they are entirely
fluit up with double doors fo contrived, as that, when
open, one cannot look into the court yard ; and there
are no windows to the ftrect, except a very lew in
their upper rooms ; fo that nothing is to be {k:q\\ but
dead walls, which make their ftreets appear very dif-
agreeable to Europeans.

Mofl: of the better fort of houfes have an arched al-
cove within this court open to the north, and oppofitc
to the foimtain ; the pavement of this alcove is raifed
about a foot and an half above that of the yard, to

B 2 f^^^'iVC

4 A DESCRIPTION of the

ferve for a divan*. Between this and the fountain the
pavement is generally laid out in mofaic work, with
various coloured marble ; as is alfo the floor of a
laro-e hall with a cupola roof, which commonly has a
fountain in the middle, and is almoft the only tolerably
cool room in their houfes during the fummer.

The people of fafhion have in the outer court but
one or two rooms below flairs for themfelves, the reft
are for fervants and ftabling ; the pavement of this is
but rou(yh, as their horfes fland there all the fummer,
except a few hours in the middle of the day. Above
flairs is a colonade, if not round the whole court, at
leafl fronting the wefl, off from which are their rooms
and h'o/ks fy thefe latter are a fort of wooden divans,
that proje6b a little way from the other part of the
building, and hang over the ftreet; they are raifed
about one foot and an half higher, than the floor of the
room, to which they are quite open, and, by having
v/indows in front and on each flde, there is a great
draucrht of air, which makes them cool in the fummer,

* Divan is a part of the room raifed above the floor, as is faid in the text j
this is fpread with a carpet in winter, in fummer with fine matts, along the fides
are thick mattraffes about three feet wide, covered commonly with fcarlet cloth,
and large bolfters of brocade hard fluffed with cotton are fet againfl the walls
(or rails, when fo fituated, as not touch the wall) for the conveniency of leaning.
See plate i 5 and 1 6. As they ufe no chairs, it is upon thefe they fit, and all their
rooms are fo furniftied. The word divan is alfo employed to fignify a number of
people alTembled in council.

t See plate 1 5.

f the

CITY OF ALEPPO. 5

the advantage chiefly intended by them. Beyond this
court is another, containing the womens apartments,
built much in the fame manner that I have defcribed
the other houfes ; fome few of them have a tolerable
garden, in which, as well as in the outer yard, there
is generally a tall cyprefs tree.

The mofques in Aleppo are numerous, and fome
few of them magnificent; before each is a fquare
area, in the middle of which, is a fountain for the ap-
pointed ablutions before prayers, and behind fome of
the larger mofques there is a little garden.

Befides thefe open fpaces there are many large khanes
or (as mofl: travellers call them) caravan feraijs^ con-
fifting of a capacious fquare, on all fides of which are
built on the ground floor a number of rooms, ufed oc-
caflonally for ftables, warehoufes, or chambers. Above
ftairs a colonade occupies the four fides, to which opens
a number of fmall rooms, wherein the merchants, as
well ftrangers as natives, tranfad: moft of their bufinefs.

The ftreets are generally narrow, but, however, are
well paved, and kept remarkably clean.

The market places, called here bazars^ are properly,
long, covered, narrow ftreets, on each fide of which

are

6 A DESCRIPTION of the

are a number of fmall fhops juft fufficient to hold the
tradcfman (and perhaps one or two more) with all the
commodities he deals in about him, the buyer being
obliged to ftand without. Each feparate branch of
bufinefs has a particular bazar allotted them, and thefe,
as well as the ftreets, are all locked up an hour and
an half after fun-fet, and many of them earlier, which
is a great Security from houfe-breakers. It deferves to
be remembered, how odd foever it may appear, that
though their doors are moflly cafed with iron, yet their
locks are made of wood.

In the fuburbs, to the eaftward, are their flaughter-
houfes, in a very airy place, with a large open field be-
fore them. The tanners have a khane^ where they
work, in the fouth weft part of the tov/n near the river.

To the fouthward, juft without the walls in the
fuburbs, they burn lime ; and a little way further is a
fmall village, where they make ropes and catgut, which
laftmanufadlureis, at fome feafons, extremely offenfive.

In MeJIjerka^ which is part of the fuburbs on the
oppofite fide of the river to the weftward, is a glafs-
houfe, Vk^here they make a coarfe kind of white glafs,
but tliey work only a few m^onths in the winter, the
greateft part of this manufadure being brought from a

village

CITY OF ALEPPO. 7

village called Armenafs^ about thirty-five miles to the
weftward, from whence alfo they bring the fand ufed
in their glafs-houfe at Aleppo.

The city is fupplied with very good water from fbme
fprings near the banks of the river at Heylan^ about
five miles to the north north eaft, v/hich is conveyed
from thence by an aquasdudl, and distributed to the
different parts of the town by earthen pipes. There is
a tradition, that this aqusedud; was the work of the
emprefs Helena^ and that from her the fprings took
their prefent name : this water is fufficient for the ne-
ceilary purpofes of drinking, cookery, ^c. Befides
this, almofl every houfe has a well, but the water of
thefe, being brackidi, is only employed for wafhing
their court yards, and filling the refervoirs for their
fountains.

The fuel, ufed in their houfes, is wood and charcoal ;
for heating their bagnios, they burn the dung of ani-
mals, leaves of plants, parings of fruit, and fuch like,
which they employ people to gather and dry for that
purpofe.

The markets are well fupplied with provifions, of
which we fhail have occafion to give a more particular
account.

For

8 A DESCRIPTION of the

For at leaft four or five miles round Aleppo, the
ground is very ftony and uneven, having a number of
fmall eminences, moft of which are as high as any part
of the city. From the weft fouth weft to the north
weft by weft, this fort of country continues for at leaft
tv/enty miles, v/ith a number of fmall fertile plains in-
terfperfed. To the northward and fouthward, after
about fix or feven miles, the country is level and not
ftony. To the eaftward a vaft plain commences, which,
though it is called the defart, yet for a great many
miles beyond Aleppo, affords a fine fertile foil.

In clear weather, the top of mount Cajfms, bearing
weft by fouth, and part of the mountains, called
Anianus, are to be feen from feveral places in the city ;
but, as the neareft of thefe, viz. that part of Amanus,
which ftrstches to the eaftward and approaches to Killis,
is at leaft thirty miles diftant from Aleppo, they can be
fuppofed to have but very little influence upon the air of
the place, any more than a fmall conical rocky hill, called
Sheih Barakat, at about twenty miles to the weft by
north, and a narrow chain of low rocky hills, ufually
named the Black Moujitains, to the fouth fouth eaft, at
about ten miles diftance.

The river CwV* (if a ftream fcarce {\x or eight yards
wide deferves that name) pafles along the weftern part

* The aocI?at Singas.

of

CITY OF ALEPPO. 9

of the city within a few yards of the walls, and barely
ferves to water a narrow flip of gardens upon its banks,
reaching from about five miles north to about three
miles fouth of the town. Befides thefe gardens, there
are a few more near a village called Bab Allah^ about
two miles to the north-eaft, which are fupplied by the
aquaducft.

The rifing-grounds above the gardens, to which the
water cannot be conveyed, are in fome places laid out
in vineyards interfperfed with olive, fig, and piftachio
trees, as are alfo many fpots to the eaftward, where
there are no gardens,

Inconfiderable as this ftream and thefe gardens may
appear, yet they contain almoft the only water and trees
that are to be met with for twenty or thirty miles
round, for the villages are all deftitute of trees, and
moft of them only fupplied with water by what rain
they can fave in cifterns.

The latitude of Aleppo^ as fixed by a French mathe-
matician who was there in the year 1753, is thirty-fix
degrees twelve minutes N. latitude, which, though fome
minutes dilTerent from the obfervations of others, yet is
probably the moft exadl, as he was not only a man of
eminence in his profefiion, but was alfo furnifhed with

C the

lo A DESCRIPTION of the

the beil inftruments, an advantage which perhaps the.
other obferv^ators had not. The longitude is faid to be
3 7 D. 40 M. eaft from Londoji, Its diftance from the
fea, in a direct line is about iixty miles, and its height
from thence is coniiderable, but not yet accurately af-
certained.

Having thus finifhed what was thought necelTary
concerning the Situation o^ Aleppo , with relpedl to the-
parts adjacent, let us now take a general view of the
face of the country throughout Syria^

The coafl: in general is bordered by very high moun-
tains, except near Seleucia^ and there from mount Pie-
ria to mount Caffms^ which is ten or fifteen miles, is
quite level, leaving a paflage for the river Oj-ontes to
empty itfelf into the Mediterranean. Thofe mountains
are covered with trees, fhrubs, and a number of plants ;
fo that, different from the plains, they retain their ver-
dure all the fummer. As they abound with fprings
thefe colled: into little rivulets, and in a few places oa
that fide next the fea rivers, which plentifully irrigate
the plains that are between them and the fea. Behind
them, on the land fide, are generally extenfive plains
which receive great benefit from the ftreams that de-
fcend from the mountains, nigh to which they are well
cloathed with myrtle, oleander, and other fhrubs. The

oppofite

CITY OF ALEPPO. II

opposite boundaries of thofe plains are for the mofl part
low, barren, rocky hills, and behind them other large
plains, which though they have no water but the rain
which falls in the winter, yet are exceeding fertile ; and
this is not improbably occafioned by the quantity of foil
which muft neceflarily be wafhed down into them from
the furrounding little rocky hills, by the violent rains of
the winter. This intermixture of rocky eminencies
and plains reaches within land about fixty or feventy
miles, after which the country is generally level, from
what I have been told, all the way to Bajforah, and is
properly Arabia Deferta,

In all Syria there is but one river, (the Orontesj that
having its rife on the land fide of the high mountains,
finds its way to the fea ; the reft, which indeed are but
few and inconfiderable, being foon abforbed by the
thirfty plains through which they run, more efpecially
as they receive but very few fupplies in their paflage :
and even the Orontes^ though it be fwelled by a num-
ber of little brooks from the high mountains behind
which it runs, and derives a farther fupply from the
lake of Antioch^ yet feems as confiderable a great many
miles above Antioch^ as where it empties itfelf into the
Mediterranean. "

C 2 The

12 A DESCRIPTION of the

T]ie feafons in this country, generally fpeaking, are
exceeding regular, particularly at Aleppo^ where the air;
is ufually very healthy, and fo pure and free from damps
that all the inhabitants, of what rank foever,. fup and,
fleep in their court-yards, or upon the houfe tops, ex-
pofed to the open air, from the end of May to the mid-
dle of September, without fuffering any inconveniency
from it. However, as I fhall hereafter have occafion to
be more particular on this fubjedl, I will at prefent on-
ly mention in general the changes of the feafons as they
appear to our fenfes..

The natives reckon the fe verity, of the winter to laft'
but forty days, which they call Maarbanie, beginning,
from the twelfth o^ December, and ending the twentieth
of Jafiuary ; and in fadl this computation comes near
the truth. The air, during this time, is exceffively
piercing, particularly to ftrangers, even though they are.
but juft come from a cold cHmate. In the thirteen:
years that I refided there, it happened not above three
times that the ice was of fufficient ftrength to bear a
man, and that too with caution, and only in a fituation.
where the fun-beams never reached it. The fnow, ex-
cepting three years, never lay above a day, and -even
in the depth of winter, when the fun fhines out and!
there is no wind, it is warm,.nay fometimes almoft hot,,
8 in,

CITY OF ALEPPO. 13

in the open air. Narciilus's are in flower during the
whole of this weather, and hyacinths and violets at the
kteft appear before it is quite over.

As February advances, the fields which were partly
green before,, now by the fpringing up of the later grain
become entirely covered with an agreeable verdure, and
though the trees continue in their leaflefs wintery ftate
till the end of this month, or the beginning of Marchy
yet the almond, when lateft, being in blofTom before
the middle of Febrtiary^ and quickly fucceeded by the
apricot, peach, ^c. gives the gardens an agreeable ap-
pearance. The fpring now becomes extremely plea-
&nt, and has no defedl but its fhort duration, for as
March brings it on with rapidity, fo April advances
with like hafte towards fummer, and the gay livery that
the fields wore in thofe two months, and indeed moft of
the winter, fades before the middle of May ; and be-
fore the end of this month the whole country puts on
fo parched and barren an afpe6t, that one would fcarce
think.it was capable of producing any thing but the ve-
ry fev/ robuft plants which flill have vigour enough to
refift the extreme heats. From this time not' fo much
as one refrefhing fhower falls, and fcarce a friendly
cloud appears to fhelter us from the excefilve heat of
the fun till about the middle af September , when gene-
rally

14 A DESCRIPTION or the

rally a little rain falling, either in Aleppo^ or the neigh-
bourhood, refreiiies the air greatly.

From thefe firft rains till the fecond, an interval of
at leaft between twenty and thirty days, the weather is
temperate, fcrene, and extremely deliglitful, and if the
rains have been at all plentiful, though but of a few
hours duration, the country foon affumes a new face ;
after the fecond rains the weather becomes variable,
and winter approaches by degrees, not with fo fwift a
pace as the fummer, for the greater part of the trees re-
tain their leaves till the middle of November ; the
raoft delicate never make fires till about the end of this
month, and fome few pafs the whole winter without
them.

It is feldom that Aleppo is troubled witb very hard
gales of wind j the coldeft winds in the winter are thofe
that blow from between the north weft and the eaft,
and the nearer they approach to the laft-mentioned
point, the colder they are during winter and part of the
fpring. But from the beginning of May to the end of
September^ the winds blowing from the very fame points
bring with them a degree and kind of heat which one
would imagine came out of an oven, and which, when
it blows hard, will affed metals within the houfes, fuch
as locks of room doors, nearly as much as if they had

been

C r T Y 0 F A L E P P O. 15

been expofed to the rays of the fun ; yet it is remark-
able that water kept in jarrs is much cooler at this time
than when a cool wefterly wind blows. In this feafon
the only remedy is to fliut all the doors and windows,
for though thefe winds do not kill as tk^ftimyel^ (which
are much of the fame nature) do on the defart, yet they
are extremely troublefome, caufing a languor and diffi-
culty in refpiration to moft people. Many fummers
pafs without any of thefe winds, and, during my flay,,
in no fummer have there been more than four or five
days of them ; for though the eafterly and northerly
winds reign moft in the winter, yet providence has
wifely ordered it that the wefterly winds are the moft
frequent in the fummer, without which, confidering
the intenfe heat of the fun's rays, and the refledion
from a bare rocky tra(Et of ground, and from the white
ftone walls of the houfes, the country would fcarcely
be habitable.

Where the town is fituated it is, as moft of the other
rifing grounds, rocky, and the foil juft round it a white
light earth, very ftoney, and not fertile ; but in moft
other parts of the country, the foil is a redifh, or fome-
times blackilli hght mold, and produces the fruits of
the earth in great abundance.

A confiderable part of the country lies uncultivated,
from the tyranny of their government, the infecurity of

pro-

i6 A DESCRIPTION of the

property, and the confequent indolence of the inhabi-
tants ; but very little is allowed to lie fallow with a
view to ciiltiirej nor do they ufe much manure.

They begin to plough about the latter end of Sep-
tember^ and fow their earlieft wheat about the middle
of OBober. The frofts are nev^er fevere enough to pre-
vent their ploughing all the winter, fo that they con-
tinue to fow all forts of grain to the end of yanuary^
and barley fometimes after the middle of February,
No harrow is ufed, but the ground is ploughed a fecond
time after it is fown, in order to cover the grain; in
fome places where the foil is a little fandy they plough
but once, and that is after fowing. The plough is fo
light, that a man of a moderate ftrength may eallly
carry it with one hand : a little cow, or at mofi: two,
and fometimes only an afs, is fufficient to draw it in
ploughing, and one man both drives and holds it with
fo much eafe that he generally fmokes his pipe at the
fame time.

Belides T'urhy wheat, barley, and cotton [a), they
jTow in the fields, cicers {fi)^ lentils (<:), beans [ri)^

chick-

(a) Xylon five gofiypium herbaceum J. B. i. 343. Gojfypium folih quinquelobis

cahU herhnceo. Hoii. Upfal. 203.
(/■) Cicer fativum flore candido. C.B.P. 347.
(r) Lens vulgaris femine fubrufo. C. B. P. 346.

Lens Monanthus, Hort. L. B.
■{d) Faba rotunda oblonga feu cylindracea minor, feu equina alba, Mor. Hlft. ii. ^S'

GITYopALEPPO. 17

chickling (^), fmall vetch (y*), fefamum, ricinus, hemp,
a green kidney bean (g)y called by the natives mafh,
and much eat j mufk melon (h) water melon (z), a fmall
fort of cucumber called ajour, fennel-flower {k)y fenu-
greek (/), baftard-faftron (m)^ Turkey millet.

About Aleppo they fow no oats, their horfes being
all fed with barley ; but near Antiochf and on the
coail of Syria^ I have feen fome few fields of them.

. Near the city tobacco {n) is planted in the gardens
only, but in the villages about ten or fifteen miles oiT a
large quantity is planted in the fields, and all the hills
from Shogre to Latachia produce fuch plenty of this
vegetable that it makes no inconfiderable branch of
trade, particularly with Egypt.

The harveft commences with the barley about the
beginning of May^ and that, as well as the wheat, is ge-
nerally all reaped by the twentieth of the fame month.
The more wet the fpring the later the harveft and

(^) Lathyrus fativus flore purpureo, C. B. P. 344.
(/) Vicia minima cum filiquis glabris Inft. R. H. 397.
{g) Phafeolus minimus fru(ftu viridoovato.
(/>) Melo vulgaris, C. B. P. 310.

Melo magnus cortice virente Isevi femine parvo, J. B. i. 244.
{/) Anguria citruUus difta, C. B. P. 312.
(i) Nigella floreminorelimpJicecandido, C. B. P. 145.
(/) Foenumgrecum fativum, C. B. P. 348.
{m) Carthamus officinarum flore croceolnft. R. H. 457-
(«) Nicotiana major latifolia, C. B. P. 169.

D the

i8 A DESCRIPTION of the

the more plentiful the crop. As foon as it is cut downj;
or rather pluck'd up, (for this is their more ufual way)
it is carried to fome neighbouring fpot of hard even
ground, and there diflodged from its hufk by a ma-
chine like a fledge, which runs upon two or three rol-
lers, drawn by horfes, cows, or affes. In thefe rollers
are fixed low iron wheels, notched like the teeth of a
faw, and pretty fliarp^ at once cutting the draw and fe-
parating the grain.

Their granaries are even at this day fubterraneous
grottos, the entry to which is by a fmall hole or open-
ing like a well, often in the high way, and as they are
commonly left open when empty, they make it not a
Mttle dangerous riding near the villages in the night.

The cotton is not gathered till OBober, and fuch
fpots as are fown with it yield a pleafant verdure when
every thing elfe feems to be burnt up. In the neigh-
bourhood of Aleppo there is no great quantity.

The olives produced about the city are, as I appre-
hend, very little more than fufficient for pickling for
the ufe of the inhabitants. But at Edlib^ about thirty
miles to the fouth weft, and the other villages near it,
they have large plantations affording yearly abundar.ce
of oil, with which, and the afties brought by the Arabs

6 from

C I T Y OF A L E P P O. 19

from the defart, a very confiderable quantity of foap is
annually made, fome at Aleppo^ but the greatefl part
at Edlib,

When proper care is taken, the oil is very good, but
as the people of the country are not nice in their tafte,
they are lefs difpofed to be attentive about it.

The ricinus fiirnifhes an oil which ferves the common
people for burning in their lamps, and from the fefa-
mum an oil likewife is extracted called feerage, cpn-
fumed chiefly by the Jews.

The vineyards round the city produce feveral forts
of tolerably good grapes, fuflicient for the fupply of the
markets. I need fcarce mention that the Turks make
no wine, but the Chrijlians and "Jews are allowed to
make fuflicient for their own ufe, upon payment of a
certain tax ; and the grapes for this purpofe, as well as ■
raiflns, are all brought from fome diftance. Their
white wines are palatable, but thin and poor, and fel-
dom keep found above a year. The red wine is deep-
coloured, flrong, and heady, without any flavour, and
much fooner produces fleep or fl:upidity than mirth and
elevation of fpirits.

D .2 From

JO A DESCRIPTION of the

From the raifins, ufually mixed with a few anifeeds,
they draw an ardent fpirit; which they ftile arrack, and
of this the Chrijlia7is and Jews drink pretty liberally.

The infpiffated juice of the grape (<?), called here
dibbs, is brought to the city in fkins, and fold in the
publick markets ; it has much the appearance of coarfe
honey, is of a fweet tafte, and in great ufe among the
people of all forts.

Though ufe feems the chief thing confulted in the
laying out of their gardens (except in a few where they
have fmall fummer-houfes) and they have not either
fine walks, or any fort of ornament, yet, after what has
been faid of the country, it will be eafily imagined how
agreeable their verdure and fhade muft be in the hot
weather, and confequently how much they muft be re-
forted to at that feafon. But this is not the only re-
frefhment they afford the inhabitants, for the markets
are from them plentifully fupplied with feveral forts of
fruits, pot-herbs, roots, and fallading ; though, as they
are obliged to ufe a great deal of water (which they
raife with the Perfian wheel) it muft be owned that
their fruits in general have very little flavour, nor do

they

{o) Sapa vini. 4

CITY OP ALEPPO. 21

they often flay till they are ripe before they gatiicr
them. The following are all the variety here pro-
duced.

Cherries three forts j the common red cherry (/)), the
white heart cherry {q)y and Vifnia cherry (r) ; apricots
two forts, one of which has a fweet kernel, and is an
exceeding good fruit, they ingraft it upon the almond,
and reckon its delicacy proceeds from that particular
circumflance [/). Peaches but indifferent [t) ; feveral
forts of plumbs [li] \ cornelian cherry [x] ; two or three
forts of apples, but very bad [y) ; fome indifferent good
pears [z] \ quinces [a) ; pomegranates of three forts,
fweet, four, and another between both(<^) ; almonds [c] ;
black mulberries [d] \ white mulberries in great abun-
dance ; with the leaves of this tree the filk-worms are
fed {e) J walnuts [f) ; figs [g) of four kinds j hazel-

( f) Cerafus fativa fruftu rotundo rubro et acido, Tourn.

(y) Cerafus major fruftu magno cordato albo.

(r) Cerafus.

{/) Armeniaca fruftu majore nucleo amaro, T. 623.

Armeniaca.
[f) Perfica molli carne et vulgaris viridis alba, C. B. P. 440.
\u) Prunus.

{J) Gorylusfylveltris, C. B. P. 418.
(_y) Mains fativa.
(z) Pyrus fativa.
(<5) MalusCydoneavelCotonea.
(i) Malus Punica fativa, C. B. P. 438.
(f) Amydalus dulcis etamara, 'J. B. i. 174.
\d) Morus fruftu nigro, C. B. P. 459.
{e) Morus fruiftu albo, ditto.
(/) Nux inglaas, J. B. i, 241.
(1) Ficus fativa.

nuts

22 ADESCRIPTIONoFTHE

nuts (h)y the kernels of which they parch and eat be-
tween meals. Piflachio nuts (z), of a very good quali-
ty, and of which a confiderable quantity is yearly fent
to Europe ; jujubs {U) ; olive (/) ; fumach, ufed much
as a reliflier in many of their difhes {m) ; one tree only
of St. y«5/6;?'s bread («), is to be found in the gardens,
though it is very common on the coaft, and the fruit
fold in the bazars at Aleppo^

Thefe trees are all ftandards planted promifcuofly,
and very little obliged to culture. In fome places they
are thrown together in thickets, in others they form in-
clofures for the beds of garden-fluft, in which inclofures
are alfo found the plane tree {p\ white poplar (/>), com-
mon white willow [q] ; another willow that bears a
fweet-fcented flower, called by the natives baan, from
whence they diflill a flmple cordial water much ufed (r).
Horn-beam (/), a very few oaks {t\ afli [u\ Hlac [x\

{h) Cornus hortenfis mas, C. B.P. 447,.

(r) Teiebinthus Indica Theophrafti, piflachio Diofcorid is Lob. adv. 413.,
\k) Ziziphus Dodonari pemp;. 807.
(/) Olea fativa.

\m) Rhus folio ulmi, C. B. P. 414.
(k) Siliqua edulis, C.B. P. 402.
((/) Piatanus Orientahs verus, Park. Theatr. 1427,
(/>) Populus alba majoribus foliis, C. B. P. 429.
(jf) Salix vulgaris alba arborefcens, C.B. P. 473.
(r) Salix Syriaca folio oleagine argentea, Rawolf. 74.
(/) Carpinus Mathioli.
(r) Quercus laiifolia.
\u) Fraxinus excelfior, C. B.P. 416.
(.v) Lilac Mathioli, Tourn. 601.

"bead

CITY OF ALEPPO. 23

bead tree ( J'), a very few of the nettle trees (;^), ole-
after (^], tamarifk (/^), turpentine tree (c), a very few
medlars (</), elder (^), rofes of various kinds (y), thorn (^),
balauftine tree (^], forming on the whole a wild and
irregular but agreeable profped. The cyprefs trees (/')
are generally planted nigh the houfe ; the black-ber-
ry (k) alfo grows wild all over the gardens. They have
neither goofberries nor currants now, though in Ra-
ucolf\ time there feems to have been a few.

The pot-herbs, ^c. produced by the gardens will be
beft ranged according to the feafons in which they are
moft plentiful, in order to give a clear idea of the food
of the inhabitants in the different feafons, for which
reafon alfo I fhall here take the liberty to mention feve-
ral that have been already enumerated.

(y) Zizipha alba Raw. p. 38. Azedarach Dod. pempt. 848.

(z) Lotus — Celtis fruftu nigro, Tourn.

\a) Eleagnus Orientalis anguftifoliis fruftu parvo olivae formi fubdulce, T. Cor. 53.

(A) Tamarifcus Narbonenfis Lobel.

\c) Terebinthus vulgaris, C. B. P.

{d) Mefpilus vulgaris

{e) Sambucus fruftu in umbella nlgro, C. B. P. 45 6.

(y ) Rofa alba vulgaris major, C. B. P. 482,

Rofa Damafcena Lob. Icon. 206.

Rofa rubra multiplex, C. B. P. 481.

Rofa lutea fimplex, ditto 483.

Rofa Mofchata fimplici flore, ditto 482.
(^) Rhamnus prim. Cluf. Ger. 1334.
(/j) Punica flore pleno majore, T. 636,
0) Cupreflus Dod. 856.
(^) Rubus vulgaris, live rubus fru6tu nigro, C. B. P. 479.

From

24 A DESCRIPTION OF THE

From the beginning of November to the end of
Ma?-ch^ cabbage (/), fpinnage (m\ endive [n), radifhes of
two forts (o), turnips (/>), beet(^), carrot (r), are in great
plenty; collyflowers (^ ) make their appearance to-
wards the end of January^ are in great abundance in
February and part of March^ by the end of which
month they become fcarce. April and May produce
lettuces of different kinds (/), beans /^^.f), truffles (t'), arti-
choaks {y\ which are very fmall, and chiefly eat by the
natives when very young, fo as when ftew'd they eat
the whole; and peafe(;2r).

The two laft-mentioned remain in feafon all the
month of yune. Purflane(/2), and cucumbers ((^) come

(/) Braffica capitata alba, C. B. P. i ii.

Braflica alba capite oblongo non penitus claufo, ditto.

BialTica Gangyloides, ditto,
(m) Spinachia vulgaris.

('/•) Cichorium latit'olium, five endiva vulgaris, T. 479.
{5) -Raphanus major orhiculat. vel rotundus, C. B. P. 96.

Raphanus minor oblongns, ditto.
(/)) Rapafativa rotunda radice Candida, C. B. P. 89.
{q) Beta rubra radice r.apa?, C. B. P. 1 18.
(r) Daucus fativus radice luteo, Inft. R. ii. 307.

Daucus llxtivus radice atro rubente, J. B. 3. part. ii. 64.
(/) Braflica cauliflora, C. B. P. 1 1 1 .
(/) Laftuca.

\u) Faba rotunda oblonga feu cylindracea minor, feu equina alba, Mor. Hift. ii. 85.
(f) Tubera terra? cdulla.

()) Cinara hortenfis toliis non aculcatis, C. B. P. 385.
(z) Pifum hortenfe majus (lore fruftuque albo, C. B. P. 342.

Pifum arvenfe fruftu albo, ditto 343.
{a) Portulacalatifoliafeufativa, C. B. P. 288.
(/)) Cucumis vulgaris mature friiftu fublr.teo, C. B. P. 310.

Cucumls fativus vulgaris fructu albo, C, B.P.

in

CITY OF ALEPPO. 25

come in feafon alfo in Maj, and are in plenty till the
end of yu/j ; in Septejnber and OSiober the latter are
again brought to market in great abundance, and to-
wards the end of this laft mentioned month the young
ones are gathered for pickling.

The months of yime and Augujl produce mufk me-
lons (c) in great abundance ; and a fmall cucumber called
ajoor, which is often extremely bitter. To thefe, in
the month of July^ are added water melons {d)^ which
we have in great perfection j Jews mallows {e) \ kid-
ney beans (/) ; adders cucumbers [g] ; Syrian mal-
low (/6), lupines [i) ; as alfo feveral kinds of gourds
(i) ; three fpecies of mad apples (/), called by the na
tives badinjan ; which remain all September^ and the
latter as far as the middle of Nove?nber^ making the
principal part of the food of the inhabitants during
the months of yuly^ AuguJ}^ September^ and OSiober ;
and they are fo fond of them, that they preferve them

(c) Melo vulgaris, C.B. P. 310.

Melo magnus cortice virente laevi femine parvo, J. B, 1. 244,
((f) Anguria citrullus difta, C. B. P. 312.
\e) Corchorus, five melochia, J. B. ii. 982.
(/) Phafeolus vulgaris, Lob. Icon. 59.
{g] Cucumis flexuofus, C. B. P. 310.

(//) Ketmia Brafilienfis folio ficus trudlu pyramidato fulcato, T. InfV. 100. Bamia.
(/') Lupinus.
[k) Cucurbita longa, folio molli, flore albo, J. B. ii. 214.

Cucurbita lagenaria, ditto, 216.
(/) Melongena fruftu oblongo vlolaceo, Inft. R. H. 151.

Melongena frufftu rotundo, ditto.

Melongena fruftu incurvo, ditto, 152.

E various

26 A DESCRIPTION of the

various ways, fo as to afford occafionally a difti through
the whole year. Squafh {m) comes in towards the end
of September^ and continues all the year. The orange-
fhaped pumpion (;?) we have more common in the
fummer-months. They have none of the colocaffia
at Aleppo^ but great quantities at Tripoli ; where the
fhopkeepers ufe the leaves (as Rawolf mentions of A-
leppo) inftead of paper, for putting up their wares.

The few following are to be met with' at all fea-
fons ; parfley (o), crefs (/>), mint (^), onions (r),
and garlick {f) ; which though they come lafl: in the
lift, yet they are far from being the leaft in ufe or
efteem among the natives.

In the gardens they alfo cultivate carraway (/),,
coriander (z^), dill (x), cyprefs canes (jv), and commoa
reed (^), both much ufed by the manufadlurers of filk
and cotton fluffs, by way of reels., ^c^

(ra) Melopepo fruiftu maximo albo, Tourn.

\n) Pepo rotundus aurantii forma, diuo, 31 r.

(0) Apium hortenfe, feu petrofelinum vulgo, C. B. P. 15-3.

(;.) Naflurtium hortenfe vulgatum, C. B. P.

(y) Mentha.

(r) Cepa vulgaris floribus & tunicis candidis, C. B. P. 7t,

(/) Allium fativum-, C. B.

\t) Carvi Caefalpin. 241.

\u) Coriandrum majus, C. B.P. 158.

(a') Anethum hortenfe, ditto, 147.

(y) Arundo vallatorla,

\%) Arundo vulgaris.

Befid

es

CITY OF ALEPPO.

27

Befides what have been already mentioned, which
are produced by culture, the fields afford the buglofs
{a)f mallow {/>), and afparagus (c), which they ufe as
pot-herbs j the capper {d)y which they pickle ; the
dandelion (e), and water creffes {/), ufed in fallading ;
and the fummer favory (g)j which, dried and pow-
dered, and mixed with fait, they call zafer, and often
eat as a relifher with bread, ferving many of the na-
tives by way of breakfaft in the winter-fcafon ; alfo
the Spamjh nut (^) ; and a fpecies of hartwort (z), called
by them Jecacul ', both which they eat crude.

In their little gardens they cultivate, befides the
rofes already mentioned, the Dutch hundred-leaf rofe
(4) ; monthly rofe (/), which, by proper management,
flowers about ten months in the year ; a few plants of

{a) BuglofTum anguftifolium majus flore caeruleo, C.B. P. 256.

Bugloffum vulgare albo & violaceo colore, H. R. Par.

Bugloffum fylveflre minus.
{V) Malva vulgaris flore minore, C.B.P. 314.
(f) Afparagus fylveftis tenuiffimo folio, C. B. P. 490.
\d) Capparis fpinofa fruftu minore folio rotundo, C. B. P. 480.
\e) Dens leonis latiore folio, C. B. P. 1 26.

Dens leonis orientalis tenuiflimo divifis tomentofis & incanis, T. Cor.
(y) Sifytrtbrium aquaticum Mathioli, 437.

Sifymbrium Creticum Raphani foliis eleganter dilfeftis, T. Cor. 35.
{g) Satureia fativa, J. B. iii. 272.

(A) Sifyrinchium majus flore lutea macula notata, C. B. P. 40.
(;) Tordylium orientale fecacul Arabiam diftum, Boer. Ind. Alt. 68.
{k) Rofa centifolia Batavicn, Cluf. H.
{I) Rofa omnium calendarum, H. R. Par.

E 2 the

28 A DESCRIPTION ov the

the paffion flower (m) ; and feveral kinds of jafmin («) :
oleander (o), and myrtle (/)), grow plentifully in all
the water'd parts of Synaj but here only by culture.
Henna (^) is kept in pots, and preferved with great
care from the inclemency of the winter, being much
efteemed on account of its fweet-fcented flowers ; Spamjh
broom (r), vervain mallow (/), night-fliade (t), winter
cherry (u) ; and abundance of flowers, feveral of which
have been brought there by the Europeans .^ and of which
they are very fond, the women in particular, who deco-
rate their head-drefs wdth them : of thefe the chief are
the ranunculus and anemony, carnation, hyacinth, nar-
ciflijs, violet, tuberofe (x), African marigold {y\ lu-
pines, fow-bread, Indian bellflower (;£-), marvel of
Pe7'ii, {a) J columbine, flock-gelliflower. They alfo

[in] Granadilla.

(«) Jafminum viilgatius fiore albo, C. B. P. 397.

Jafminum hiteiim, vulgo dicftum baccit'eium, ditto, 398.

Jafmmum Arabkum, Cluff.
{0) Nerium fiorjbus Fubefcentibus, C. B. P. 464.
If,) Myrtus.
[q) Lawfonia ramis inermibus, Fior. Tcyl. Liguflrum EvypUacum latifoUum-

C.B.P.4y6. ■'

(:) Cenifta juncea, J. B. i. 395.
( /) Alcea rofea hortenfis maxima folio ficus flore albo, H. R. Par.

Alcea rofea Iiortenfe folio ficus, ditto.
(/) Solanum barciferum fruticofum, C. B. P. 1 66.
{u) Alkekengi officinarum, Inft. R.H. 15 r.

(■) Hyacinthus Indicus tuberofus flore hyacinthi orientalis, C. B. P.
( }) Tagetus.

(2) Campanula Tndica, J. B'. Cmvilvuhn hidictu folio fubrotim^ fiore vhlaceo^C.E.P^
{a) Jalappa flore piirpureo, Infl. R. H. i?.9.
Jalappa flore fiavo, ditto.

4 raile

CITY OF ALEPPO. 29

raife in thefe little gardens Guinea pepper {b)y which
they ufe as a pickle ; and love apples (c), which are
but little ate by any of the natives, except the Jews ;
rofemary [d)^ bafil (^), flower gentle (/), female
balfamine [g), mufk fcabious, rue (Zi), wormwood (/).
The common Seville orange (i), the fweet Seville
orange (/), Chi?ia orange (w), common lemon {n)^
fweet lemon (0), and citron (/>), are alfo with care pre-
ferved here by the natives, for they will not bear a fe-
vere winter in Aleppo ; though they are in great abun-
dance at Byas^ Latachia, Tripoly^ and other places on
the coaft of Syria ; from whence the city is plentifully
fupplied with thefe fruits.

Neither my time, nor knowledge in botany, even
though aflifted by my brother, who had a great deal
more of both, were equal to the tafk of making a

{^) Capficum filiquis longis propendentibus, 1. R. H. 152.

Capficum filiqua propendente rotunda & cordiformi, ditto, 153.
(c) Lycoperficon Galeni Aug. 217.
\il') Rofmarinus hortenfis anguftiore folio, C. B. P. 217.
\e) Ocimum vulgatius, C. B. P. 326.
(/) Amaranthus maximus, C. B. P. 120.
(^) Balfamina fosmina, C. B. P. 306.
(/.) Ruta.
(/) Abfynthium.

\k) Aurantium acri medulla vulgare, Fen. Hefp.
(/) Aurantium medulla dulci vulgare, ditto.
(w) A^urantium finenfe, ditto.
(«) Limon vulgaris, ditto.
(0) Limon dulcis, ditto.
\f) Citreum vulgar?, Tourn.

Citreum tnaguo fruiflu, ditto.

compleat

30 A DESCRIPTION of the

Gompleat lift of all the plants growing round Aleppo ;
but though feveral may have been omitted, great care
has been taken that none fhould be inferted in the
following account but what have been determined with
as much accuracy as pofTible. It may not be impro-
per to obferve, that the plants in general are of a much
humbler growth here than in moft other parts.

Several plants have been already mentioned as flower-
ing early in the year, as hyacinth (^), dafFodil (r), tu^
lip (/), and violet {t) ; but the Spanijh nut is what
may be called the harbinger of the fpring, and efteemed
fo by the natives, who are fond of its roots, which are
fold at this feafon in the pubHck ftreets in great quan-
tities ; and from this time the botanizing feafon com-
mences. Towards the middle of February the banks

It muft be obferved, that all the various fpecies of each plant are placed toge-
ther, though to be met with at different feafons, and fuch as arc produced
only by culture, are marked with *.

(y) Hyacinthus orientalis flore violaceo, C. B. P. 44.

Hyacinthus orientalis primus albus,
(f ) NarcifTus pallidus medio uureus, C. B. P. 50.

* NarcifTus orientalis flore multiplico & pfeno albo luteo> ditto, 49.

* NarcifTus juncifoliis luteis minor, ditto, 51.
(/) Tulipa precox rubra.

Tulipa.
(f) Viola martia purpurea flore fimpKce odoro, C.B. P. 199.
Viola martia alba, ditto,
Viola martia multiplice flora purpureo, ditto.
Viola montana.

Viola tricolor hortcnfis repens, L. B. P. 199.
Viola orientalis bicolor arvenfis longifolia flora minimo, T,Cor. 30.

of

Wesl'Vi.-Ginia University Libraries

C I T Y OF A L E P P O. 31

of the river are covered with a fmall cranefbili (u) ;
and about the fame place is found the daizy {x)y mention-
ed by Rawo/f. To thefe are quickly joined a profufion
of plants, but chiefly in the gardens and low grounds,
meadow faffron (jv), flower-de-luce feveral fpecies (2r),
bulbous flower-de-luce (^), fnow drop (6), ox eye (c),
marigold {d)j archangel (£>), fumitory (/), fliepherds
purfe {g)y dandelion (^), hypecoon (/), grape hya-
cinth {kjy faffron (/), great variety of crowfoot (m),

particularly

(u) Geranium tuberofum majus, C. B. P. 318.

Geranium cicutae folio inodorum, C. B. P. 319V

Geranium robertianum i. rubens, C.B. P. 319.

Geranium orientale batraehoides aconiti folio flore variegate, T. Cor. 20,.

Geranium latifolium longiffima acu, C. B. P. 319.
(x) Bellis chalepenfe precox.
{y) Colchicum commune, C. B. P. 6j.
{z) Iris vulgaris Germanica, five fylveftris, C. B. P. 30.

Iris alba Florendna, C.B. P. 31.
(a) Xyphion anguftifolium flore cinereo, Inft. R. H. 364.

Xyphion anguftitolium flore vario, ditto.
lb) Narciflb Leucoium pratenfe multiflorum, Inft. R. H^ 387.
(c) Buphthalmum.
{d) Calendula flore citrino, C. B.

(e) Lamium purpureum fcetidum folio fubrotundo, five galeopfis Diofcoridis,
C.B. P. 23-.

Lamium orientale foliis eleganter laciniatis, T. Cor.
(/) Fumaria oflicinarum & Diofcoridis flore purpureo, C.B. P. 1-43.

Fumaria oflicinarum & Diofcoridis flore pallefcente, ditto.
(g) Burfa paftoris major folio finuato, C. B. P. 108.
(h) Dens leonis latiore folio, C. B. P. 126. . /-

Dens leonis orientalis tenuiflime divifis tomentofis & incanis, T. Cor. 35^
{!) Hypecoon tenuiore folio, Infl. R.H. 230.

Hypecoon orientale latiore folio flore magno, T. Cor. 17.

Hypecoon orientale fumarix folio, ditto.
Ci) Mufcari arvenfe junci folium caeruleum minus, Inft. R.H. 348,

Mufcari Byzantinum flore candicante, Inft. R. H. 347.
(/) Crocus vernus latifolins flavo varius, C. B. P. 65.
{m) Ranunculus grumofo radlce, C. B. P. i3c.

An Ranuncultis ftellatus echinatus Creticus, ditto^^

RanunciHus-

32 A DESCRIPTION of the

particularly one fpecies (ranuncul. vern. rotundifol.
minor ]^ that generally covers all the marfliy parts of
the gardens.

o

' As the fpring advances, the following come on
with furprifing rapidity. Madder (/z), cleavers (o),
periwinkle (/>), plantain [q\ androface (r), bur-
net (y), fpeedwell of many fpecies C^)> wake ro-
bin

Ranunculus nemorofus luteus, C. B. P. 178.

Ranunculus nemorofus purpureus, Tab. Icon. 45.

Ranunculus arvenfis foliia chamomaeli flore minore atro rubente. Lift.

R. H. 291.
Ranunculus f'oliis chamomffili flore citrino, ditto.
Ranunculus arvenfis parvus folio trifido, T. loi.
Ranunculus rutse folio fcrotinus flore aureo pleno, H. R. P.
Ranunculus vernus rotundifolius minor, Infl. R. H. 286.
Ranunculus orientalis pulfatills folio flore magno, T. Cor.
Ranunculus Illyricus radicibus bulbofis foliis longis, J. B. iii. ^61.
Ranunculus Lanugenofus anguftlfoliis grumofa radice minor, C. B. P. 181.
Ranunculus arvenfis echinatus, C. B. P. 179.

Ranunculus arvenfis foliis chamomseli flore minore luteo, InfV. R. H. 291.
Ranunculus orientalis aconiti folio flore luteo maximo, T. Cor. 20.
Ranunculus nemorofus ex rubro purpureus. Lob. Icon. 46.
Ranunculus ceratophyllus feminibus falcatis in fpicam adacftis, Mor.
H. ii. 440.

(«) Rubia tinftorum fativa, C. B. P. 333.

Rubia fylvefl:ris monfpefulana major, J. B. iii. 715.
(^) Aparine vulgaris, C. B. P. 334.

Aparine minimo Raii ; Galium Parifienfe tenui folio flore atropurpureo,Tourn.
(f) Pervinca vulgaris anguftifolia flore cseruleo, Infl. R. H. 123.
\q) Plantago latifolia finuatis, C. B. P. 183.

Plantago anguftifolia major, ditto.
(r) Androface vulgaris latifolia annua, Infl. R. H. 123.
(/) Pimpinella fanguiforba minor hirfuta, C. B. P. 160.
(/) Veronica orientalis heders terreftris foliis flore magno, T. Cor. 7.

Veronica orientalis ocimi folio flore minimo, ditto.

Veronica verna trifido vel quinquifido folio, Inft. R. H. 145.

Veronica mas fupina & vulgatiiTima, ditto, 143.

Veronica aquatica minor folio fubrotundo, ditto.

Vcropica

I'tnj:/r7rn!</f},7yc j^

da/e^^r/^/y^ ereciurr

^■jj>.^>^ i^.Ut:

l/j^:^<?^yc--

CITY a-P ALEPPO. 3j

bin (u) feveral fpecies, dragons (x), feveral kinds of
toad flax (jv), clary (x), fow bread {a\ which near
Aleppo is chiefly cultivated in their little gardens, but
V€ry common on the mountains ; various forts of
clarey [b)y three fpecies of charlock (c), Mithridate
muflard {d)^ baftard Mithridate muftard [e\ ftock-

Veronica Chia cymbalaria folio verno flore albo umbilico viiefcente, Tourn.

Cor. 7.
Veronica orien talis ininima foliis laciniatis, T. Cor. 7.
Veronica aquatica major folio fubrotundo, Infl. R. H. 145.
Veronica terreftris annua folio polygani flore albo, Morrif. H. ii. 322.

(«) Arum angufliflimo folio, Inft. R. H. 160.

Arum ByzantinUm, J.B. ii. 1S5.

Arum venis alhis Tfalirum max^imum. H. R. Par.
{x) Dracunculus polyphyllis, C.B. P. 195.
(;) Linaria fegetum numullaria folio villofo, Inft. R. H. 169.

Linaria angufiifolio flofculo albis longius caudatus Triumfet, %-j,

Linaria Conftantinopolitana lini fativi folio flore luteo, T. Cor. 9.

Linaria minima hirfuta folio acuminato in bafi ardculato flore luteo miniilioi
Mor. Hifl. ii. 503.
(z) Horminum coma purpurea violaceo, J. B. ill. 3C9.

Horminum orientale foliis rligofis et verrufcofis anguflis flore albo, Tourn*
Cor. 10.
(0) Cyclamen vernum angulofo folio triplici viriditate fericea vario maximis flo-
ribus albis imo ofculo purpurafcente Antiochenum nuperorum, H. R. Par.
{h) Sclarea vulgaris languinofa amplifTimO folio, Inft. R. 1 79.

Sclarea orientalis betonics folio acutiffimo coma purpurafcente, T. Cor. 10.

Sclarea Syriaca flore albo, Inft. R. H. 1 79.

Sclarea rugofa verrucofa laciniato folio, ditto.

Sclarea Syriaca flore caeruleo, ditto.

Sclarea folio falviae flore purpureo, luft. R.H. 180.
\c) Rapiftrum monofpermum, C. B. P. 95.

Rapiftrum arvenfe foHo auriculato acuto, Inft. R. H. 21 1.

Rapiftrum montanum, five fyheftre irionis folio, Column,
{d) Thlafpi arvenfe perfoliatum majus, C. B. P. 106.

Thlafpi orientale faxatile flore rubeate foliis polygalae petalis florum sqtiali-
bus, T Cor. 15.

Thlafpi montanum fempervirens, C. B.P. 106.
\t\ Thlafpidum hirfutum calyce flore auriculato, Inft. R. H. 214.

gell)flo\ver

34 A DESCRIPTION of the

gellyflower {f]y dames violet (g) four fpecies, wild
radifh {h\ two fpecies of chickweed (/), four kinds of
inoufe-ear [k\ houfe-leek (/), caltrops (;;^), two fpecies
of anemony (n), parfley {o\ petty madder (p), hart-
wort (^), fliepherds needle (r), clove-gellyflower
(yj, various fpecies of garlick (/), bindweed two

(/) Lencoium incanum fimplex fativum diverforum colorum.

Leucoium luteum vulgare, C. B. P. 202.

Leucoium maritimum fmuato folio, C. B. P. 201.

Leucoium orientale filiqua eleganter luiiata,' T. Cor. 16.
{£) Hefperis peregrina filiquis artkulatis, C. B. P. 202.

Hefperis maritima fupina exigua, Inft. R. H. 223.

Hefperis orientalis glaftlfolio flore magno violaceo, T. Cor. i6»

Hefperis ficula frutefcens fiiiqua tricufpide, Infl. R. H. 223.
(/j) Raphaniftrum Alepicum flore diluio violaceo, T. Cor. 7.

RaphaniftrujTi arvenfe flore albo, Inft. R. H. 230.
(;■) Alline fpergula difta major, C. B. P. 251.

Alfine.
(^) Myofotis hirfuta altera vifcofa, Inft.R. H. 245.

Myofotis arvenfis polygonli folio, ditto.

Myofotis orientalis perfoliato lychnidis folio, T. Cor. 18.

Myofotis Hifpanica fegetum, Inrt. R. H. 245.
(/) Sedum minus teretifolium album, C. B. P. 283.
(m) Tribulus terreftris ciceris folio feminum integumento aculeato, MonHIfl.

ii. 102.
(«) Anemone, 2 fpec.
\o) Apium anifum diftum femine fuaveolente,. Inft. R. H. 305,

Apium paluftre & apium ofEcinarum, C. B. P. 154.

* Apium duke celeii Italorum, H.R. Par.

* Apium hortenfe petrofelinum vulgo, C. B.P. 153.
{p) Rubeola anguftiore folio, Inft.R. H. 130..

(^) Tordylium minus limbo granulato Syriucum, Mor. Umbel, ^y,
(r) Scandix femine roflrato vulgaris, C. B. P. 152.

Scandix Cretica minor, ditto.

Scandix orientalis flore maximo, T. Cor. 23.,
(/) Caryophyllus fylveAris, C. B. P. 209.

Caryophyllus altilis major, C. B. P. 208.
(/) Allium anguftifollum umbellatum flore albo, Inft. R. H. 385.

Allium montanum.

Allium montanum latifolium maculatum, C. B. P. 74.

Allium faxatile acori radice flore purpureo, Bocc. Muf. ii. 84.

Allium Pyrrhiaum, C B. P. 75-

kind's

J'la^ s/aci^ ^a^£- J^ .

a D-EAnsf i^Jn

Z( J'tyn/^t/c

Fla J fafi,^^ ^a^e ^ ^

/nia.</TW fifi<//,j/7> .'yrt^/r.Q 6h. fi

^■JSi.C/i^^ <^f/f^

j;,/.4U,if^,yc.

^iu :4:/a^e/^4/ fia^e- j 4

3^ ln'/ii6'aj'(/€^t/?o O/. 6hr. 27

—U. c/urtC. cU/i/tV-

j[^Aj^.<^tr.

CITY OF ALEPPO. 35

kinds (u)i fpurges feveral fpecies (x), horeliound (j),
field Ba/i/ {z), treacle-muftard (a), woad {6)y hem-
lock (c), water parfnip (d), navel- wort (^), hrank
urfine (/), gold of pleafure (^), flix-weed (/6), horned
wild cumin (z), fweet fern (^), baflard parfley (/),
fhrub liartwort (m), fcorching carrot (;/).

And towards the middle of Apri/ the country is ift
its full bloom, the verdure of the fields being beauti-

(«) Convolvulus major, J. B. Lin. Sp. pi. 2.

Convolvulus argenteus folio althese, C. B. P. 285.
{x) Tithymalus Myrfinites latifolius, C. B. P. 296.

Tithymalus Cypariffias, ditto, 291. Euphorbia i,q. Lin. Sp, pi. 50.

Tithymalus tuberofa pyriformi radice, C. B. P. 252. Lin. Sp. pi. 3J.

Titliymalus Cypariffias Prof. Alp. exot. Lin. Sp. pi. 38.

Tithymalus Graecus Heliofcopius maximus foliis eleganter crenatis, T. Cor.
(_)') Marrubium album villofum, C. B. P. 230.

Marrubium album vulgare, ditto,
(z) Clinopodium orientale hirfutum foliis inferioribus ocymum fuperioribus hyflb-
pum referentibus, T. Cor. 12.

Clinopodium Auftriacum, Cluf. Hift. 353.
(a) Jonthlafpi luteo flore incanum montanum Diofcordis, Colum. Par. i. 280.
{b) Ifatis fylveflris vel anguiftifolio, C. B. P. 1 13.
\c) Cicuta major, C.B. P. 160.
\d) Sium.

{e) Cotyledon Cretlca tuberofa radice flore luteo parvo, T. Cor.
(/") Acanthus aculeatus, C. B. P. 383.
(g) Myagrum fativum, C. B. P. 199. Jlyjpn Jegeium foliis aunculatus acutts^

Inji. R. H. 217.

{h) Sifymbrium annuum abfynthis minoris folio, Infl. R. H. 226. Sophia Chyrur-

. gorum. Lob. Icon.
(;') Hypecoon tenniore folio, Infi:. R. H. 230.

Hypecoon orientale fumariae folio, T, Cor. ^

Hypecoon orientale latiore folio flore magno, ditta.
{k) Myrrhis orientalis foliis chamomseli, T. Cor. 23.

(/) Caucalis orientalis arvenfis tenuifolio flore purpureo magno frudlu,
T. Cor. 23.

Caucalis Monfpeliaca echinato magno fruflu, C. B. P. 153.

Caucalis erefla maximo fruftu longius aculeis donato, _T. Cor. 23.
\m) Bupleurum orientale anguftifolium fcmlne longiore, ditto, 22.
(n) Thapfia carroti folio, ditto, 148-

F 2 fwli/

36 A DESCRIPTION of the

fully variegated by poppies (<?), bellflower (/>), gro-
niel (^), comfrey (r), mullein {f)^ fage (^), rocket
(/,;), hedge-muftard (.v)j muftard (y), horned pop-
py (sr), great variety of campions [a], pimper-
nel

(o) Papaver erratlcum majus, C.B. P. 171.
Papaver.

Papaver hortenfe femin^ alhn fatlvum Diofcoridis album Plinio, C. B. P. i/c.
{p) Campanula pentagoniix flore ampllffima Thracica, Tourn. Inft. 312.
\q) Lithofpermum minus repens latifoliura, C. B. P. 258.

Lithofpermum arvenfe minus, Inft. R. H. 137.
(/•) Symphitum orientale echii folio ampliore longiffimis vlUis horido flore croceo,
T. Cor.
Symphitum orientale echii folio flore albo tenuiilimo, ditto.
( f) Verbafcum pulverulentum flore luteo parvo,, J.B. iii. 872.
(/) Salvia montana maxima foliis hormini flore flavefcente, laft. R.H, 180.
Salvia majar calyce floruni purpurafcente, ditto.
Salvia niinor aurita & non aurita, C. B. P. 237.
{u) Eruca Haleptnfls caulibus & filiquis hirfutis.

Eruca latifolia alba fativa Diofcoridis, C. B. P. 98.
(v). Ei-vfimum orientale folio fonchi flore fulphureo filiquis longifliml^, Boer.
Ind. Alt.
Er} fimum vulgare, C. B. P. 100.

An Erylimum Gracum anguflifolium majus procerius & minus hirfiitumi
T. Cor. 17.
(j) Sinapi nrvenfe precox femine nigro, Mor. Ilift. ii. 216.

An Sinapi Grscum maritimum tenuiflime laciniatum fiore purpurafcente^.
T. Cor. 1 7.
[%) Glaucium flore violaceo, Infl. R. Ii. 254.
Glaucium flore luteo, ditto

Glaucium orientale flore magno aureo, T. Cor. 18.
{a) Lychnis orientalis faponarite folio fubhirfuto, T. Cor. 24.
Lychnis vifcofa flore mufcofo minor, H. R. Par.

Lychnis fylveftris hirfuta annua floee minora carneo, Mor. Hlfl. ii. 541.
Lychnis fylveftris quae faponaria vulgo, Infl. R. H. 356.
Lychnis papaver fpumeum anguftifolio glabra flore purpureo, H.R. BloiH
Lychnis orientalis calyce pyramidato flriato longifTimo, T. Cor. 24..
Lychnis fegetum rubra foliis perfoliata, C. B. P. 204.
Lychnis fylveftris alba fpica reflexa, Bot. Monfp.
Lychnis fylveftris pluribus foliis firaul junftis, C. B. P. 205.
Lychnis fegetum rubrum foliis perfoliatse ampliorlbus Juflieu.
lychnis fupina flcula calyce ampliflimo.ftriato, T. Cor, 24.

LychnSr.

CITY OF ALEPPO. 37

nel {b)y figwort (c), berry bearing chickweed 0)j
ilax {e)j corn-flag (/), lilly daffodil {^), larkfpur
(/6), buglofs {t)y, ladies bed-flraw (i), birthwort (/),
konwort (;/j), fkull-cap {n), trifoil (o), melilot
(^), calves fnout (^), Moldavian balm (r), mc-

Lychnls fylveflris vifcofa rubra altera, C. B. P. 205^

Lychnis orientalis fupina maritimi capfulis lychnidis coronaria, T. Cor. 24.

An Lychnis orientalis minime. granimeo folio calyce purpurafcente ftriato,
T. Cor. 24.
(Ji) Anagallus ca;ruleo flora, C. B. P. 252.
(c) Scrophularia orfentalis chryfaathini folio flore mlaimo atro purpureo, T_

Cor. 9.
(rf) Cucubalus Lugd. 1429.
(() Linum orientale pumilum flore luteo-magno, T. Cor. 24.

Linum fativum humillus flore majore, Mor. Hift. ii. 573.
(/) Gladiolus floribus uno verfo difpofitis major & procerior flore purpureo ru--

bente, C.B.P. 41.
(;') Lilio narcifliis polyanthus flore incarnato fundo ex luteo albefcente, Sloaiu.^

Lilio narcilTus luteus autumnalis major, Inft. R. H. 386".
{h) Delphinium fegetum flore cceruleo, Infl:. R. H. 426.

Delphinium arvenfe fibre verficolore, Cluf. App. 2.
(/) BuglolRmi anguftitblium majus flore CKruleo, C. B.P. 356.

Bugloffum vulgai-e albo & violaceo colore, H. R. Pai-.

BugloiTum fylveflre minus, C. B. P. 256.
(/f) Galium luteum, C. B. P. 335.

Galium arveufe flore carruleo, Infl. R. H. 115.

Galium album linifolium Micheli.
(/) Ariflolochia longa vera; C. B. P. 162,

Ariflolochia orientalis foliis lanceolatis.
(m) Sideritis orientalis phlomidis folio, T. Cor. 12.

Sideritis foliis hirfutls profunde crenatus, C. B.P. 233.

Sideritis Cretica vifcofa anguftifolia, Zan.
(.',) Caffida orientalis chamedrys folio flore luteo, T. Cor. 11.
[0) Trifolium capitulo fpumofo afpero majus, C. B. P. 329.

Trifolium pratenfe luteum capitulo lupuli vel agrarium, C. B. P. 328,

Trifolium pratenfe album, ditto, 327.

Trifolium itellatum, ditto, 329.

Trifolium cum glamerulis ad caulium nodos rotundis, Rail Syn. 194.
(/)) Melilotus Mefllmenfes procumbens folkulis rugofis fublongis fpicis floriiQi.
brevibus, RaiiHift. 952.

Melilotus.
f,) Antirrhinum arvenfe majus, C. B. P. 212.
(r) Moldavia orientalis falicis folio flore parvo caeruleo, T.Car. 11.

dick

r^S A DESCRIPTION OF THE

dick (/), reft harrow [s)j goats rue (r), baftard roc-
ket (//), kidney vetch (x), corn fallet {j), two fpecies
<!)f fatyrion (2^), knapweed (^), hatchet vetch (^j, co-
lumbine (c), fcabious (d). Nor are the ftoney, un-
cultivated, rifing grounds v/ithout their plants ; as
thyme (e)., vipers buglofs {f)y ground pine (g),
crefs ( /> ), common whitlow grafs ( z }, mad-

{/) Medica major ereftior floribus purpurafcentibus, J. B. ii. 382.

Medica cochleata J'i>caf zro; caplula rotunda fpinofa foliis eleganter difre(51is,

H. L. Bat.
Medica fylveflris, an. Tonrn. 47.'

Medica orbiculata elegans orbiculis circumoras rugofis, RaiiHift. 962.
Medica fylveflris floribus e luteo pallefcentibus, Inft. "R. H. 410.
Medica Cretica orbiculata fruftu utrinque turbinate, T. Cor. 28.
Medica orbiculata fruftu lato fimplice voluto, Raii Hift. 96z.
-(i) Anonis fpinis carens luteo minor, Bot. Monfp.

Anonis Hore luteo parvo, H R. Par.
it') Galega vulgaris floribus ciTruleis.
\u) Refeda vulgaris, C. B.P. 100.
{x) Vulneraria flore purpurafcente, Infl. R. H. 391.
{ i) Valerianella fruftu fiellato.
(z) Orchis,
(a) Jacea montana pumila capite magno ftraboli, J. B. iii. 30. Ccntaurium majus

!nca>iu?n hu?mle capiti pini, hiji. R. H. 448.
(/;) Coronilla Cretica herbacea flore parvo purpurafcente, T. Cor. 44.
(f) Aquilegia fylveflris, C. B. P. 144.

(</) Scabiofa orientalis argentea foliis inferioribus incifis, T. Cor. 34.
(e) Thymus vulgaris tenuiore folio, C. B. P. 219.
(/) Echium vulgare, C. B. P. 254.

Echium majus & afperius flore diluto purpureo, Bot. Monfp.
Echium foliis angullis & villofis, Inft. R. H. 1 30.
Echium rorifmarini folio, ditto.

Echium Creticum anguftifolium rubrum, C. B. P. 234.
Echium orientale majus & afperius flore leucophseo, T. Cor.
(^) Chamacpytis hitea vulgaris, five folio trifido, C. B. P. 249.

Charaitpytis Auftriaca Gerard. Ruyfchiana flore cseruleo magno, Boer.
Ind. Alter.
(/>) Nafturtium orientale foliis inferioiibus millefolium, fuperioribus perfcliatum
refcrentibus, Infl. R. H. 214.
Nafturtium hortenfc viilgatum, C. B. P. 103.
(/) Alyffon vulgare polygon! folio caule nudo, Inft. R. H, 2 1 7. Paronychia vutg.
Dod. pempt.

7 wort

CITY OP ALEPPO. j9

wort (i), eryiigo (/j, St. i^?w feveral fpecies (;/?), bird;i
foot {n)y horre-flioe vetch (o), birds foot trefoil [p\'
moon trefoil (^), vetch feveral kinds (r), milk vetcli
(y*), betony (/), knapweed {u)^

Among the rank herbage in the gardens are
found at this feafon, borage {x\ Germcm madwort
( y ), hounds tongue ( % ), broom rape ( a )y

(i) AlyfTon orientale polygoni folio flore luteo, T. Cor.
(/) Eryngiiim ftellalum capitulis cseruleis Rawolf.

(//<) Onobrychis foliis vicise fruftu echinato major floiibus dilute rubentibus^
C. B. P. 350.

Onobrychis orientalis incano flore luteo fruftii magno radiato, T. Cor. 26.

Onobrychis orientalis Gelegs foliis ereftior floribus lineis purpereis utriiique.
reticulate, ditto.
{1) Ornithopodium fcorpoides filiqua compreffa, Inft. R. H. 4C0.

Ornithopodium portulacae folio, ditto, 401.
(ff) Ferrum equinum filiqua fmgulari, C. B. P. 349.
(p) Lotus.
(^) Medicago annua trifolii facie, Infi:. R.H. 412.

Medicago vulnerariK facie Cretica, ditto.
(/■) Vicia fegetum filiquis fingularibus glabris, C.B.P. 345,

Vicia orientalis flore fuave rubente llliquis breviffimis, Boer. Ind. Alt. 2..

Vicia fylveflris hirfuta incana, C. B. P. 345.

Vicia anguflifolia purpuro violaceo filiqua lata glabra, Bot. Monfp.
(/) Aflragalus orientalis incanus foliorum alis prodeuntibus, T. Cor. 28;

A ftragalus orientalis incanus foliorum conjugationibus denfiflimus, ditto, 29,

Aftragalus incanus filiqua incurva, Bot. Monfp.

Aflragalas drientalis maximus incanus erectus caule ab imo ad fummum Ro-
ndo, T. Cor. 29.

Aflragalus luteus annuus Monfpelianus procumbens, Mor. Hift. ii. 108.

An. Aflragalus montanus vel onobrychis aliis, J. B. ii. 339.
(/) Betonica orientalis fideritidis facie flore dilutiffime purpurafcente, T. Cor. 13,.
(«) Jacea montana pumila capite magno flr.aboli, J. B. iii. 30.- Centaiirium ma-
jus circanum humile capite pini, Infl. R. H. 448.
(x) Borago floribus caeruleis, J. B. iii, 574.
(v) Afperago vulgaris, Infl. R. H. 175.

(a) CynoglofRim Creticum latifolium faliJum, C.B.P. 257,.
(/() Orobanche major garophyllum olens, C.B.P. 87.

Orobanchefubcxruko flore. five 2 Cluf. Hill 271.

mint

40 A DESCRIPTION of the

mint {h)j rufh (<:), balm [d)^ thyme {e), vervain
i^f)y dittander [g), hollyhock (^), cinquefoil (/),
lilly (/^), burdock (/), but in fmall quantity; mug-
wort {m). But among the plants that adorn the fields
at this feafon, no one is more confpicuous or common
tlian the lion-leaf (;/) : nor fhould vi^e here omit a
beautiful fpecies of henbane (<?), with a ftrong mufk
fmell ; vi^hich feems to be the hyofciamus rubello Jlore^
C. B.P. 169. though the pecuUarity of its fhiell I do
not fijid has been mentioned.

As the heats come on, the few following plants be-
ing of a hardier nature, are the only ones that are ca-

{l) Mentha fylveftrls longiore folio, C. B. P. 227.
Mentha anguftifolia fpicata, ditto.
Mentha.

(c) Junciis.

(d) Meliffa hortenfis, C.B. P. 229.

{e) Thymus vulgaris tenuiore folio, C. B. P. 219.
{f) Verbena tenuifojia, C. B. P. 269.

Verbena.
{g) Lepidium latifolium, C.B. P. 97.

LepiJiiim humile minus incanum Alepicum, Infl:. R.H. 216.
{h) Malva rofea folio fubrotunJo flore dilutius rubente, C. B. P. 315. Allca, Lin.
Sp. pi. I.

Malva rofea flore candido, ditto.
(i) Quinquefolium.
{k) Lilium album vulgare, J B. ii. 685.

Lilium pnrpuro croceum majus, C. B. P. y6.
(/) Lappa major aretrum Diofcoridis, C.B. P. I98.
(;«) Artemifia.
(' ) Leontopetalon foliis coftas ramofse innafcentibus, T. Cor. 49.

Leontopetalon foliis colla: fimplici innafcentibus, ditto.
(■/) Hyoldamus rubello flore, C. B. P. 169.

Hyofciamus vulgaris vel niger, ditto.

Hyofciamus Creticus hiteus major, C B. Prodrom. 92.

pable

J'/a S ^a^ria- J'<:iff^ 41 .

OD-EAK'^i^/^

J '^JJuru^t/C,

CITY OF ALEPPO. 41

V

pable of refilling them. Wild or Syrian rue [p\
bean capers ($/'), capers (r), which grow in plenty on
the tops of old houfes ; kings fpear {f) feveral ipecies ;
a variety of ftars of Bethlem (^), liquorice {u)^ nighc-
fhade (at), fennel (j'), blefled thiftle (^r), wild cucum-
ber {a). Nothing now remains of the Ipring-plants in
the open fields.

Of the plants that belong to the fummer, except
the following, al hagy (^), a very low kind of acacia
(c), goats thorn (^), kaH (^), feveral fpecies of

(/)) Ruta fylveftris flore magno albo, C. B. P. 3^6. Harmala Dod. pempt, 121.

Ruta fylveflris linifolia Hifpanica, Bocc. Muf. p. ii. 82. tab. 73,
(q) Tabago Belgarum, five peplus Parifieafium, Lugd. 456.
(r) Capparis fpinofa fruftu minore folio rotundo, C. B. P. 480.
{/) Afphodelus albus ramofus mas, C. B. P. 28.

Alphodelus albiis minimus, ditto, 29.

Afphodelus luteus & flore & radice, ditto, 28.

Afphodelus flore fuave rubente. Lob. Icon. 91.
(/) Ornithogalum majus fpicatnm flore albo, C. B. P. 70.

Ornithogalum anguftifolium bulbiferum, ditto, 71.

Ornithogalum umbellatum anguflifolium medium, ditto, jc.

Ornithogalum fpicatum flore viride laclelcente, ditto.

Ornithogalum Byzantinum flore .albo, Inft. R. H. 380. Hyacinthus Jiellarls
anicenui jio e nlbo., C. B. P. 46.

Ornithogalum Lufitanicum capillaceo flore luteo, T. Inft. 380.
(.v) Glycyrrhiza filiquofi vel Germanica, C. B. P. 352.
\x) Solanum officinarum acinis luteis, C. B. P. 166.

Solanum baccifcrum fruticofum, ditto.
(_)■) Foeniculum fylveftre perenne fa'rulac folio breviori, Infl. R. H. 311.

Fceniculum dulce majore & albo femiae, ditto.

Fceniculum annuum umbello contradta oblonga, ditto. Fifnaga, J. B. 3. 2. jr.

Foenicuium orientale cuminum dictum, Inft. R. H. 312.
(z) Cnicus fylvefl:ris hirfudor five carduus benediclus, C. B. P. 378. .

Cnicus exiguus capite cancellato femine tomentofo, Inft. R. H. 351,,
{'.) Cucumis fylveftris afininus diftus, C. B. P. 314. Elaterium^ Boer. In I.
lb) Al hagy Maurorum, Rawolf 94. T. Cor. 54.
(f) Acacia.

I'l) Tragacantha orientalis humillima incana flore ptirpuranfe, T. Cor. 29.
<0 Kali.

G thiftles

42 A DESCRIPTION of the

thiftles (/), and the gundelia (g), the greateft part are to
be found under the fliade, or nigh the little channels;
where the water runs in the gardens. Molucca balm {h)^
bafe horehound (/), baftard horehound (^), dWarf olean-
der (/), ricinoides {m)^ thorn apple {n), tumfole {(?),
leadwort (/>), pimpernel (^), teafel (r). After the
firft rains in the autumn, the fields e^ery where
throw out the autumnal lilly daffodil ; and the
few plants which had flood the fummer now glow
with frelh vigour^

Bendes what plants have been already enumemted,,
the country produces the camomile-like ox-eye {f)^.

(/) Carduus ftellatu? luteiis folii3 Cpni, C. B. P; 387. %'«<? filftltiaUsy Dodi
ptmpt 734.

Carduus orientalis lanceolatus flore parvo piirpureo, T. Cor. 31.

Carduus orientalis calcitrapa folio flore flavefcente odoratiffimo, ditto.

Carduus tomentofus acanthi folio Alepicus magno flore, Inlt. R. H. 441.
{fj Gundelia orientalis acanthi aculeati folio floribus intenfe purpureis ca^itc-

araneofa lanuguiue obfitOj T. Cor. 51.
(i) Molucca la;vis, Dod. pempt. 92.

Molucca fpinofa, ditto.
(;) Stachys major G«rmanica, C. "B.P. 236.

(i) Marrubium nigrum foetidum Ballote Diofcoridis, C. B* P. 230.
(/) Chamaenerion villofum majus flore parvo, Inft. R. H. 303.
(«/) Ricinoides ex qua paratur turnfol Gallorum, Inft; R. H. 655.

Rii;inoides Americana verbafci folio. Plum. lat.
(. ) Stramonium fruftu fpinofo rotundo flore albo flmplice, iaft.R. Jli liS.
4) Heliotropium majus Diofcoridis, C. B. P. 253.

Heliotropium minus fupinum, C. B. P. dittoj
{/))' Plumbago quorundam, Cluf. Hift. 1-23.
{cj) An-.igallis cteruleo flore.
{) ) Dipiiicus.
{/) Cotula Cretica montana abrotaai folio, T, Cor. ^,

fiieezwort

CITY OF ALEPPO. 43

fneezwort (/), yarrow {u\ cats foot (.v), fleabane (j/),
feveral forts of grafs (%)y ragweed (^), ftinking orach
(b\ wild orach (c), vipers grafs (d) ox-eye (^), May
weed (/), corn marigold {g\ goats beard (/6), Achilles %
yarrow (/), Afmrkan nightfliade (4), chickling (/),
chickling vetch {?n)^ French honeyfiickle {n\ fever-
few (<?), chamomile (/), hemp (^), fliarp-pointed

if) Ptarmica orientalis foliis fantolini incanis feiniflofcuUs florum pallide U-
teis, ditto.

Ptarmica orientalis fantolini foKo radice repente, Milleh
{a) Millefolium orientale altiffimum luteum abrotani folio, T. Cor. 37.
{x) Elichryfnm fylveftre latifolium flore magno fmgulare, Inft. R. H. 45a.
{^y) Conyza orientalis pumila iiicana olese folio. T. Cor, 33,
(2) Gramen pratenfe.

Gramen fegetale.

Gramen panaceum.

Gramen daftylum vEgyptiacum.
{a) Jacobea orientalis cacaliae fofio, T, Cor. 37.

Jacobea fenecionis folio tenuiffime divifo non incano flore magTio,
{i) Chenopodium foetidum, Inft. R. H. 506.
(f) Chenopodium folio finuato candicante, ditto.
(<</) Scorzoiiera purpureo flora chalepenfe, Cat. Stirp. Or.

Scorzonera foliis laciniatis fupina, Bocc. Boer. Ind. Alt.

Scorzonera latifolia fmuata, C. B. P. 275.
(f) Buphthalmum.
</) Calendula.

\g) Chryfanthemum majus fofio profundus laciniato magno flore, C. B. P. 1-34.
{/;) Tragopogon purpureum.

Tragopogon pratenfe luteum majus, C. B.P. 274.
(;) Achillea.

\k) Phytolacca Americana major! fruftu, Infl. R. H. 299.
(/) Lathypus latifolius, C. B. P. 344.

Lathyrus Ba-ticus flore luteo, Park. Theat. 1064.

Lathyrus luteus latifolius, Bot. Monfp.

Lathyrus angufliilimo folio femine rotundo, H. R. Par.
(w) Clymenum Hifpanicum flore vario fdiqua plana, Inft, R. H. 396.
(a) Hedyfarum clypeatum flore fuaviter rubente, Hort. E^'ft.
(0) Matricaria orientalis tannaceti folio incano & villofo flore parvo, T. C01-, 37.
\p) Chamomaelum Chium vernum folio cralliore flore magno, ditto.

Chamomoelum orientidc foliis pinaatis, ditto.
(f) Cannabis.

G 2 'dock

44 A DESCRlPTIONoF the

dock (r), bloodwort (/), pellitory of the wall (^), true
maiden-hair (u)^ nettle (^), ftarry hawkweed fuccory
(J')j groundfeil [z). The weeping willow [a) fhould
likewife have been mentioned before, which is very
common in the gardens.

And the river affords plenty of the yellow watcr-
lilly (b)^ from whence the natives diftil a cordial-water
much ufed by them.

I never travelled through Syria^ either with a botani-
cal view, or at the proper feafon ; fo that I cannot prc'-
tend to give any tolerable account of the plants grow-
ing at any diftance from Aleppo. The few, however,
that came to my knowledge, I fhall juft mention.
On the mountains grow feveral forts of oaks, pines,
myrtle, juniper,, bay, St. yohns bread, kermes, aza-
role, the fruit of which is brought to market in the
autumn ; and the andrachne in fuch plenty, that it af-
fords nigh one half of the wood ufed for fuel in Aleppo,

(>) Lapathum acutum five oxylapathum, J. B. ii. 983.

(/) Lapathum folio acuto rubente, C. B. P. 114.

(r) Parletaria orientalis polygani folio canafcente, Hort. Pif.

(«) Adianthum foliis coriandri, C. B. P. 355.

(i-j Urlica ureos minor, C. B. P. 232.

Urtlca pilnlifei a folio anguftiore caule viride belliarica of Salvadore, Boer. Ind.
{\) RhagoJiuliis alter. Caefalp. 511.
(z) Senecio minus vulgaris, C. B. P.

{ 7) Salix oiientalis flagellis deorfum pulchre pendentibiis, T. Cor..
{b) Nymphoea lutea major, C. B, P. 193.

The

2'la^ ^^eina Jii^e ^ .

^■t'/urui^ <_>f ^<?-f\

z;.^. (^/Urt^^l^

'^ -*?

C I T Y o F A. L E P P O. 45

The fhining red of its bark, together with the beauty
of its flowers and fruit, will, I doubt not, make it
efteemed as a valuable acquifltion to the BritifiD gar-
dens, if it agree with our climate, which the thriving
condition of feveral plants raifed here feems to promife.
The bindweed (c), from whence the Aleppo fcammony
of the {hops is procured, does not grow near the city,
but chiefly on the mountains. This drug is the inipif-
fated milky juice that flows from the root by inciflon ;
and each produces but a very fmall quantity. As the
plant grows wild, it is the property of any one that
will take the trouble to look for it, which is the em>
ployment of fome peafants at the proper feafon ; and
having colledted what they can of the milky liquor,
they carry it to the nearefl; village of any note, where
there are always fome traders (chiefly yews) ready to
purchafe it of them ; and thefe people generally mix
it with wheat flour, fand, aflies, Mc. fo that at pre-
fent very little is brought quite pure to market at
Aleppo. It does not appear that any thing it is adul-
terated with increafes its violence in operating ; on the
contrary, the purer the fcammony, the fmalier I have
always found the dofe : fo that the notion of its being
mixed with the juice of the fpurge feems without foun-
dation. However, the proportion of the heteroge-

(f) Convolvulus Syriacus, Scammonta Syriaca^ C, B. P, 254.

neous

46 A DESCRIPTION of the

neons fubftances mixed with it being various, rendets
the dofe of the medicine as found in the fhops very
uncertain, and fo occafions its being feldomer pre-
fcribed than fo fafe and efficacious a purgative other-
wife deferves. For further particulars relating to this
plant, fee Medical Obfervations and hiquiriesy Vol.1.
—At the bottom of the page is a catalogue of fuch
other plants as have come within my obfervation on
the mountains, and in other parts of Syria (d).

There

{d) Slllquaftrurti, Cart. Dilf. 415.
Cotinus coriaria, Dod. P. 780.
Tamarifcus Germanicus, Lob. Icon. 218.

Vitex foliis anguflioiibus cannabis modo dirpofids, C. B. P. 475^
Paliurus, Dod. pemp. 756.
Agnus caftiis.
Emerus Caefalp'mK

Colutea foliolis ovatis integenimis caule fruticofo.
Erica humilis cortice ciftericeo arbuti fl)re albo, H. R.Par.
Ciftus fcemina folio falvis elatior & reftis virgis, C. B. P.
Ciftus mas folio oblongo incano, C. B.P.
Genifla tinfloria Lufitanica xnaxima, Inft. R. H.
Ariflolochia Cretica fcaiidens altiffimoe piftalochiEe folih.
Sectnidaca lutca, C.B,
Valeriana hortenfis, C. B.
Echium Crcticum.

An. Valeriana orientalis minime flore leucOphseo*
TitJiymalus myrfinites anguftifolius, C. B. P.

Horminum orientale annuum fativo fimile coma carens flore violaceo.
Trifoliuih bituminofum arboreum atiguftifolium ac fempervirens, Hort. Carth,
An. Campanula anguftifolia pumiU (loribus casruleis uno verfu diff ofitis.
Bupleiirum orientale anguftitolium femine longiore.
Bryonia Cretica maculata, C, B.
■Cuminoides.

Cham^drys Alpina fnitefcens folio fplendentc.
Gallium montanum latitolium ramofum.

Quinquefolium orientale ereftum montanum hirfutum luteum flore majore.
Anonis vifcofa fpinis carens lutea major, C. B. P,
Cannabina Cretica fruiftitera.
An. Elilomis orieatalis hormini folio flore minoFe calyce Glabro.

6 Phlooiis

-^/fi y Jt7j<4'rta A^ife a6^

/fii'/urrC' c<z/u£e ^/a.^/o .

y ~0 ( /^ct c/fA'n.

J^y/zz^i^.

.y^

-/yV? & /t/tv/iy paac . ^ 7_

W?f/UJ

y

U.^/).CArf£ Je^t

ufcL4iiMtr. ^c

CITY OF ALEPPO. 47

There are no metals found any where near Aleppo^
or, fo far as I know of, in ail Syria ; though fome of
the rocky hills from their appearance feem to contain
an iron ore. Nigh to Antioch a i^w garnets are picked
up, but of an inferior quality.

The foil has been already mentioned. Th.^ have
fcarce any clay ; and, what they do meet with, has {q-^
httle tenacity, that it is with difficulty they can form
a very ordinary fort ^ bricks ; which, as well as the
water-jars they make of it, frequently fall to pieces of
^emfelves. The potters clay, of which the boles c^
their pipes are made, is brought from Damafcus andi
Sidon.

Phlomis orieiitalis angufto & longiore foHo flore luteo.

Elichryfum montaaum longiore folio & flore purpmeo.

Elichryfum anguflifolium incanum maximo flore.

Onobrychis.

Thymbria legitima, Cluf.

AlyfTon fruticofum incanum.

Cleraatites.

Carduus Creticus rapifolio.

Stschas purpurea, C. B. P.

■Vulueraria flore purpurafcente.

Paftinaca fylvefl:ris altiffime.

Aftragalus Alpinus procerior alepecuroides.

Lunaria leucoii folio filiqua oblonga majore.

Nigella orientalis flore flavefcente femine alato piano,

.Atriplex latifolia five halimus fruticofus, Mor. Hifl.

An. Thymellsea Cretica oleae folio utrinque glabro.

Marrubium fideritidis folio flore luteo.

Satureia fativa.

¥icia perennis incana jnultifloxa, Bot, Monfp^

About

48 A DESCRIPTION of the

About fix hours from Aleppo is found a fort of ful-
lers earth, called by the natives baylooji^ which is of-
ten ufed in the bagnio inftead of foap, and particu-
larly by the women for cleanling their hair ; for which
purpofe it is kept in balls, made up with rofe-leaves,
to give it an agreeable fmell. I may add, that a good
deal of it is ate by longing women, and fuch as have
a depraved appetite from a chlorolis.

For common buildings they make ufe of a white
gritty ftone, every where plenty about the town ; and
is very proper for the purpofe, as it is eaiily cut, and
grows hard afterwards. For the gateways, pillars, and
pavements of their beft buildings, they employ a yel-
low marble, which is capable of a tolerable polifh,
and is likewife the produce of this country. This is
often intermixed with a red, white, and coarfe black
mai-ble in their buildings, by way ot ornament. None
of the three laft mentioned are found in the neisfh-
bourhood of Aleppo ; being brought, the firft from
Dafnafcus ; the fccond, either from Italy ^ or extraded
from old buildings, chiefly about Antioch ; and the
laft, both from Damafcus and Killis. When they are
in want of the red, they can dye the yellow marble of
Aleppo^ fo as to have much the fame appearance, by
nibbing it over with oil, and then putting it into a

moderately

CITY OF ALEPPO. 49

moderately-hot oven for fome hours. The flight par-
tition-walls are built of a coarfe fort of chalk, of which
there is abundance to the northward of the city.

Lime-ftone is met with in plenty near the city, af-
fording them good cement for their buildings ; which
they carry on with great eafe and dexterity, and gene-
rally without any fcaifolding. A few hours diftance is
found the gypfum in fmall quantities, of which their
plaifter of Paris is made. This is chiefly ufed in ce-
menting the earthen pipes employed in carrying wa-
ter, and for a few other purpofes about their beft
buildings.

About eighteen miles fouth-eaft from Aleppo, is a
large plain, which we generally call the Valley of
Salt, bounded with low, rocky hills, fo as to form a
kind of natural bafon, which keep in the rains de-
fcending from them, together with the water derived
from a few fprings in the neighbourhood, and caufe
the whole to be entirely covered with water in the
winter. The extent and evennefs of the furface, how-
ever, prevents this water from collecting to any great
depth ; fo that it is foon evaporated, and leaves a cake
of fait in fome places not lefs than half an inch thick,
but it is more or lefs in proportion to the quantity of
rain that falls in the winter ; and with this cruft the

H v/hole

50 A DESCRIPTION of the

whole inclofed plain is covered. The foil of this plain
is a fliff clay, and ftrongly impregnated with fait ; but
I could not difcover that the fprings above mentioned
had any tafle communicated by this mineral.

In the month of Augujl a number of people are
employed in gathering this fait ; which is of a good
quality, and in quantity proves fufficient to fupply all
this part of ' the country.

What few black cattle they have near the city, are
chiefly ufed for the plough, or drawing water for the
gardens. The greateft part of thofe employed for tliis
purpofe are very large, with remarkably long legs, and
a gaunt belly, fuch as we often fee on antique intaglios.
The other cattle of this fpecies are fmall, and all in
general have very fhort horns.

The Turks or yews fcarce ever eat beef, and it is
but of late that the Chrijlians have begun to be fond
of it ; fb that what is killed is chiefly for the Euro-
peansy who have it tolerably good at all feafons, but
beft in fummer, as the natives to this day religioufly
obferve the ancient cuftom of allowing the oxen em-
ployed in feparating the corn from tlie ftraw to eat
what they pleafe>

Li

CITY OF ALEPPO.

5*

In fome parts of Syria there are abundance df buf-
faloes, but near Aleppo very few, and thefe chiefly
kept for milk. Mutton is plentiful, fat, and good
the whole year, except a few weeks in the fpring, and
makes by far the greater part of the animal food of
all ranks of people. Lamb is alfo to be had in every
feafon, but in greateft plenty in February^ Marchy
and April.

They have two forts of fheep in the neighbourhood
of Aleppo : the one called Beduin fheep, which differ
in no refpe<Sl from the larger kinds of fheep in Britai?iy
except that their tails are fomewhat longer and thicker :
the others are thofe often mentioned by travellers on
account of their extraordinary tails ; and this fpecies
is by much the moft numerous. This tail is very
broad and large, terminating in a fmall appendix that
turns back upon it. It is of a fubftance between fat
and marrow ; and is not eaten feparately, but mixed
with the lean meat in many of their difhes, and alfo
often ufed inftead of butter. A common fheep of this
fort, without the head, feet, fkin, and entrails, weighs
about twelve or fourteen -Aleppo rotoloes [e\ of which
the tail is ufually three rotoloes or upwards ; but fuch as

(e) A rotoloe of Akppo is five pounds.

H 2 are

52 A DESCRIPTION of the

are of the largeft breed, and have been fattened, will
fomethnes weigh above thirty rotoloes, and the tails of
thefe ten ; a thing to fome fcarce credible. Thefe
very large fheep being about Aleppo kept up in yards,
are in no danger of injuring their tails ; but in fome
other places, where they feed in the fields, the fhep-
herds are obliged to fix a piece of thin board to the un-
der part of the tail, to prevent its being torn by bufhes,
thiflles, ^c. as it is not covered underneath with
thick wool like the upper part ; and fome have finall
wheels, to facilitate the dragging of this board after
them ; whence, with a little exaggeration, the ftory
of having carts to carry their tails.

This thin flcin on the under part of the tail is much
ufed by the natives for pains and fwellings of all forts,
being applied warm to the part affefted, and allowed
to remain on till it ftinks abominably ; and as they are
very often applied to the head and abdomen in fevers,
this laft circumftance makes them prove generally de-
trimental : and indeed I have feldom, if ever, feen
much benefit received by their application, except in
fome old rheumatic pains.

They have alfo two kinds of goats ; one that dif-
fers little from the common fort in Britain ; the other
as remarkable for the length of its ears, as the iheep

above

Vr,u^fi^ /h^f IJ2

.r. . M,,nJ^ ,'. . I

.5

C I T Y o F ALEPPO. 53

above mentioned for the largenefs of their tails. The
fize of the animal is fomewhat larger than ours ; but
their ears are often a foot long, and broad in propor-
tion. They are chiefly kept for their milk, of which
they yield no inconfiderable quantity ; and it is fweet,
and well-tafted. Great numbers of them are brought
to the city about the beginning oi Aprils and are drove
through the flreets every morning, and their milk fold
as they pafs, till September. The other part of the
year they are generally fupplied with cows milk, fuch
as it is ; for as they are commonly kept at the gar-
dens, and fed with their refufe, the milk generally
taftes fo ftrong of garlick or cabbage leaves, as to be
very difagreeable. Belides the milk of the goats, their
kids add fome part to the diet of the inhabitants, a
i^^N being killed m the fpring and autumn.

Butter and cheefe, both of which are bad, are made
indifcriminately of the milk from cows, buffaloes,
fheep, or goats : and the city is fupplied with thefe
things, as well as with cattle of all kinds, by the
ylrabs^ Ruflrjoans^ or I'urhnen ; all of whom place
their v/ealth, or at Icafl derive their fubfiftence from
thofe animals, and travel about the country with their
flocks, much in the fame way as the patriarchs did
of old.

Leban

54

A DESCRIPTION of the

Leban (/) is brought in great plenty to the city
during the winter and fpring, and is a favourite difh
with the inhabitants.

The country round Aleppo abounds with antelopes ;
which are of two forts : that which is called the
mountain antelope is the moft beautiful ; its back and
neck are of a dark brown colour : the antelope of the
plain is not either fo fwift or well-made, and is of a
much lighter colour. Both forts afford no fmall di-
verlion to the fportfmen ; but are fo extremely fleet, that
the greyhounds, though very good, can feldom take
them without the afTiftance of a falcon, unlefs in foft
deep ground. In the fporting feafon they are lean, but
have a good flavour. In the fummer, when fat, they
may vie even with our venifon in England. But this
is to be underftood of fuch as are caught abroad, for
thofe that have been fattened in the houfes are not fo
delicious. From this account it will eaflly be con-
ceived, that fuch dainties only make their appearance

(/ ) Leban is a coagulated four milk, ufually prepared by boiling the milk,
and, when hot, putting a fmall proportion of leban into it, which coagulates the
V, hole before next morning. How it was made originally, I could never learn, the
natives never ufing any other than the above method : but, from fome experi-
ments which I have been told were made, it would appear, that by firft letting
fome milk ftand till four, then putting a little of it to fome frefh milk, which it
will turn alfo, next day repeating the fame with this new-turned milk, and fo
.continuing tor a number ot days, one may at lafl produce the true leban.

at

CITY OF ALEPPO. 55

at the tables of the Europeans^ and a few of the more
confiderable Turks.

Hares are in great plenty, and alfo afford good fport ;
but the natives are not fond of them, except the
^rabs^ whofe method of drefling them is particular,
and faid to be very good. They dig a hole in the
earth, which they fill with fuch light brufhwood as
they can pick up, and fet it on fire : when thoroughly
lighted, the hare, the flue, the entrails, and all toge-
ther juft as it was taken, is thrown into it ; and, alter
the flame has ceafed, they cover the hole up with the
loofe earth that had been dug out of it, and which at
firft had been laid round the verge of the fire, fo as to
grow hot : thus it is left till they judge it to be fufli-
ciently roafted, when throwing a quantky of fait over
it, they eat it without any further drefling.

A few tame rabbits are kept in the city, chiefly for
the tables of the Europea?ts , and now and then a wild
hog is brought from abroad, which, though feldom
fat, yet is efleemed by us, as it is a rarity.

The country alfo affords a few porcupines, which are
fometimes, though feldom, ate by the Europeans ; and
land-turtle and frogs in great abundance, which furnifh

4 a

56 A DESCRIPTION of the

a difli for the Franks of the Romijh religion, and for
many of the native Chriftians, in their lents.

Thefe are the animals which are commonly drefied
for food by the inhabitants of Aleppo ; for the camel,
though reckoned a delicious morfel by the Arabs y
makes no part of their diet. This creature, however,
is of the utmoft confequence to them in tranfporting
from place to place every thing for which they have
occasion ; there being no fuch thing as a wheel-car-
riage in all this part of the country, except a very
clumfy machine, now and then ufed for bringing large
pillars^ or other ftones of great weight, from the
quarry.

There are four forts of camels known here, vi%. the
Turkman camel, the Arab camel, the dromedary, and
the camel with two bunches on its back.

The Turkman camel is much ftronger, larger, more
woolly or hairy, and of a darker colour, than any of
the others. Their common load is i6o rotoloes, or
800 pounds ; but fometimes it carries much more. This
animal cannot bear heat, and therefore they never
work it in the months of yune^ y^Iy-t ^^^ Augujl.

The

C I T Y o F A L E P P O. 57

The Arab camel is much fmaller than the former,
of a lighter colour, and not fo hairy. This feldom
carries above loo rotoloes, but can bear the heat and
thirft much better than the Turhnajz ; nor is there any
need that the Arab camel be fed with barley, flour, and
chopp'd ftraw ; for the dry thiftles, and other plants which
grow on the defart, are almofl all it requires, and it
feeds as it goes along with its burthen. I remember
ah inftance, where, in a caravan from BuJ[o7'ah^ the
camels which were of this fort travelled without water
for fifteen days ; but the quantity they drank as foon
as they could come at any, proved fatal to many of
them.

The dromedary, by all I could ever difcover, is no-
thing but a high breed of the Arab camel. The only
diftindion obferved is, that it is of a lighter and handf
fomer make; and, inftead of the folemn walk to which
the others are accuftomed, it paces, and is generally
efteemed to go as far in one day as tlie others do in
three.

The camel with two bunches on its back is of Per-
Jian breed, and, except a few that come in the cara-
vans from Bagdad and Bujforah^ is but feldom feen
here. The only diftindion between it and the Arab

I camel

A DESCRIPTION of the

camel feems to be its having two bunches, whereas the
other forts have but one.

In mentioning their beads of burthen, the afs ought
not to be omitted : of which they have two forts ;
one very large, with remarkably long ears "; the other
fmall, and much like ours in England , both of no
contemptible ufe in carrying all lighter burdens to and
from the parts adjacent to the city.

Formerly this part of the country was famous for
fine horfes ; and though many good ones are flill bred
here, it may be faid they are much degenerated.
Thofe of the A?^ab breed are flight, and not very hand-
fome, but efteemed for their fleetnefs. The Twhnan
horfes are larger, of a flronger make, and more fightly
appearance ; and therefore more valued by the people
of fafhion among the Tiirksy whofe large furniture does
not fhow to advantage upon a fmall horfe. They are
for the moft part very well broke, and particularly
taught to go off in full fpeed at once, and flop as
quickly ; fo that in the fpace of a few yards the rider
can lay them out at full ftretch, and flop and tura
them. Far the greater part are ftone-horfes, but in
general not vicious ; and it is obferved of moft of their
animals, that they are exceeding gentle and familiar
with the human fpecies.

Among

CITY OF ALEPPO. 59

Among the rocky hills there are hyaenas ; but they
are not fo large as thofe which are found in the moun-
tains (g).

If this animal could formerly imitate the human
voice, and learn fome of the fhepherds names, fo as to
call them out and devour them, as fome writers have
reported, it is more than they do at prefent, being, fo
far as I can learn, fonder of the flocks than of the
fhepherd. However, though they will not attack men
but in their own defence, or through excefs of hunger ;

(g) I diflefted a male of this fpecies, which was fhot a few hours from the city.
It was a little bigger than a large maftifF-dog, which it refembled in many re-
fpe<a:s. Its colour was grey, and Ilreaked tranfVerfely with black ; the hair harfli,
and fomewhat longer than that of a dog ; and from the hind-part of the head,
down the neck and back, it had a long white mane, as defcribed by ArlHotle *.
The opinion of this animal's being incapable of moving the neck, &c- f , is with-
out foundation, it having vertebras, and as eafy a motion of the head as dogs, or
other animals of that fpecies. I could not obferve any thing in the eye particular
when dead : however, as I faw it not alive, I cannot contradift what Pliny fays,
Oculis TfvUf ejfe varietata colonanque n.u'atioties. Jull over the anus was an aper-
ture, which at firft fight appeared like a female pudendum, but proved on exa-
mination only a fhallow kind of fack. Its ufe I could not find out : but this
fcems to have given rife to what the ancients report of this animal, and what the
natives of this country Hill believe, tvz. that it changes its fex every year. 1 he
penis differed from that of a dog, in having no bone. The fcrotum was but
fmajl, and at firft fight feemed "to contain but one tefticle, the other being
clofe' bound up by the fkin, fo as not to appear externally. The vafa prspa-
rantia and deferentia were traced from the teflicle through the rings of the
mufcles ; but they were unfortunately cut out with the entrails, which the per-
fon who killed the animal had thrown away for the lighter carriage.

* Hil. Animal lib^ 8. cap S99.

f Piin. Hill. Natural, vol. 2. I.b. 8. p. 184.

I 2 yet

6o A DESCRIPTION of the

yet they Hill retain the charader of robbing fepulchres
when they have an opportunity.

Wolves and foxes are found in the champaign, but
fmaller than thofe in Europe \ and jackalls are in fo
great plenty about the gardens, that they pafs in num-
bers like a pack cf hounds in full cry every evening,
giving not only difturbance by their noife, but making
free with the poultry and other provifions, if very good
care is not taken to keep them out of their reach.

I might be excufed from mentioning their dogs,
which abound in the ftreets without any owner, were it
not that I think it worth obferving, that though they
live upon the moft putrid fubftances, have but little
water, and in fo exceffive hot a climate as tliis is in
the fdmmer, yet no inftance has been known of any
of them running mad. Their wolves however feem to
be fubje6l to madnefs ; for the rufcicks talk much of
an animal called a peeh^ which they imagine to be ge-
nerated between a wolf and a dog ; but, from their
defcription of it, viz. that it is fo like a wolf as not ta
be diftinguifhed from it ; that it attacks every perfbn
or animal that comes in its way, all of whom die
raving mad, ^c. I think it would appear that this
animal is no other than a mad wolf.

Their

CITY OF ALEPPO. bi

Their greyhounds are of a very Hght, flender make,
and remarkably fleet. Their ears are longer than ours in
Britain, and, as well as their tail, covered with a long,
foft hair, which adds very much to their beauty.

Though Mount Taurus, near to Maraa/Jj, gives fliel-
ter to the ounce, and fome few tygers are found in
moft of the high mountains, the lion on the Eu-
phrates between Bagdad and Bujforah, and the jerboa
on the defart, and perhaps on examination many other
animals in the fame places ; yet my prefent purpofe
only comprehending the parts adjacent to Aleppo, what
I have already faid on this fubje(3: may perhaps be
thought fufficient.

As to reptiles, infedls, ^c. time would not permit
me to be minute ; fo that I fhall juft mention fuch
as are hurtful or of ufe to the inhabitants, and a few
of thofe that are moft commonly met with. Of the
firft fort are the ferpents of various kinds, with which
the country abounds, many of them of the moft veno-
mous nature ; but as they all fly from man, and the
barrennefs of the fields in fummer, the only feafon in
which they are abroad, prevents either their being fur-
prifed, or people's treading upon them undefignedly,
no great number of accidents happen. In the houfes

there

62 A DESCRIPTION of the

there are often found large white fnakes ; but I never
knew any one bit by them. The fcolopendra and
fcorpion however very often fting the natives in their
houfes, caufing pain for feveral hours, but attended
with no farther bad confequences.

Of the noxious kind may well be reckoned the lo-
cuft, which fometimes arrive in fuch incredible multi-
tudes, that it would appear fabulous to relate, defliroy-
ing the whole of the verdure where-ever they pafs : but
though there are always in the fpring and fummer
fome of two or three different fpecies to be met with
about Aleppo, yet none of thefe deftrudive flights of
them appeared during my flay there. It may not be
amifs to mention that the Arabs eat this infed: when
frefh, and alfo fait them up as a delicacy.

Of infeds for ufe, we have only the bee, which
produces excellent honey, and the fllk-worm, now
fufficiently known all over Europe, as well as the me-
thod of managing them in order to procure the iilk ; of
w^hich there is but very little made nigh Aleppo : though
that being the market to which it is brought from all
parts of Syria, great quantities are fent from thence
vearly to B?'itain.

Various

CITY OF ALEPPO. 63

Various forts of lizards are found in great abundance
over the whole country, and in the gardens a few tree-
frogs (/6). It is worth obferving, that toads are fcarce
ever feen here, though common enough upon the coaft.

The view with which thefe fheets were compofed, it
is hoped, will fufficiently apologize for beginning the
account of the feathered tribe with fuch as are ufed
for food by the inhabitants. Of domeftic fowls, they
have in their markets, the dunghill cock and hen (/) j
the Bagdad fowl which is of a large breed ; the rum-
kin {k)y or cock and hen without rumps ; the turkey
(/), goofe [jn), and duck {n). Of game there are on
the river in winter, the water hen (<?), water rail (/>)>
wild goofe (^), plenty of common wild duck and mal-
lard (r), feveral kinds of widgeon (/), coot (/), fpoon-
bill [u], and various forts of teal [x], with which tlie

{}}) Rana arborea, feu ranunculus viridis.

(/) Gallus gallinaceus & gallina donvelUca.

{*) Gallus & gallina ex Perlia.

{/) GaUo pavo.

(ot) Anfer.

('() Anas.

{■)) Galinula choloropus major Aldrovandl.

{p) Rallus aquaticus Aldrovandi.

(q) Anfer ferus.

(r) Bofcas major, anas torquata major Aldrovandi.

(/) Penelope Aldrovandi.

{I) Tulica.

(«) Platea feu Albordeola.

{x) Querquedula fecunda Aldrovandi.

tables

64 A DESCRIPTION of the

tables of the Europeans are plentifully fupplied, and
fome ate alfo by the natives.

In the winter there are alfo plenty of wood-cocks
[y) ; fpring and autumn produce abundance of quails
[z] and rails [a). In the laft mentioned feafon the
witwali [b) and becca figos are both in feafon, and
(the laft in particular) efteemed as delicacies.

In the months of May and Jmie great numbers of
a bird, called by the natives kata (which are alfo to be
met with at all feafons, though not in fo great plenty),
are brought to market, and much ate by them ; but
their flefti is fo black, hard, and dry, that the Euro-
peatis never touch them. As this bird has not as yet
been defcribed, a figure and defcription of it are an-
nexed {c). Other game in the neighbourhood are,

the

(v) Scolopax Aldrovandi.

(z) Coturnix.

{a) Ortygometra Aldrov. Crex Ariftoielis,

{b) Oriolus Albert!.

((,) The kata (See plate IX.) is about the fize of a partridge, and its fliape be-
tween that and a pigeon. The bill is of a light colour, tipp'd with black, fhort,
and thick ; the legs white, covered v/ith fhort feathers on the fore-part ; three
toes ftand forward, and a fmall fpur behind. There is a good deal of variety in
their plumage. The bird now defcribed is one of the moft be.iutiful. Round
the eyes, and the fore-part of the neck (except under the throat, -where it is
black), the feathers are of a bright colour ; the tips being black, form a fort of
ring on the upper part of the breall, which is of a cinnamon colour, terminated
3t the lower part by a ring of black, like the former. The belly is white. The
back, and that part of tb.e wing next to it, is of a moufe-colour, with mofl of the
feathers tipp'd with a bright yellow. Of the fame colour is the tip of the pin-

2 niou ;

f<z^:tn^ ^zaa^ ^^

S^/.

/•

^^>-^1«f

CITY OF ALEPPO. 65

the buftard {d) of two kinds ; red-legg'd partridge [e] ;
frankolin (/), the flefli of which is deHcious, but
this bird is not to be met with at lefs than a day's jour-
ney from the city ; common fky-lark (^), wood-lark
[h)f crefted lark (/), calandra [k] ; hortulanes (/), and
citrils [7n), chiefly ate by the French ; fnipe [n]^ gird
or jack fnipe (0), fong-thrufli [p\ wind-thrufh [q]^
turtle-dove (r) ; a brown-coloured dove> which builds
in the windows, &^c. of the houfes in the city ; and
another much like it, only fpeckled on the neck and
pinions, which is very common when the corn is ripe,
but difappears as foon as that is reaped j wild pigeon,

nion ; but the fhort feathers under it are broad, and tipp'd with black, or a cof-
fee-colour, with a narrow rim of white at the very extremity, having the appear-
ance of fo many half-moons. The long feathers of the wing are of a moufe-colour,
with the quill black. The feathers on the rump are agreeably variegated with
black, white, and yellow. The tail, which is ftiort, Hke that of a pigeon, ends
in two long, very narrow, black feathers or quills, running out near three inches
beyond the others, and ending in a point. Thefe birds are in fuch plenty in the
months mentioned in the text, that a whole afs-load has often been taken at once
(hutting of a clafp-net.

(c/) Otis feu tarda avis.

Stella avis.
((?) Perdix ruffa Aldrov. •■

(/) Francolinus oiinse, known to the French by the name of geUnot,
[g] Alauda vulgaris.
(h) Totavilla olinae.
(;■) Alauda criflata galerita.
(i) Calandra.

(/) Hortulanus Aldrovandi.
\ni) Citrinella.
[).) Galinago minor.
[1) Galinago minime.
{p) Turdus.
(7) Turdus Iliacus.
ir) Turtur.

K wood

66 A DESCRIPTION of the

wood pigeon [/). They have alfo variety of tame
pigeons, and particularly the carrier {t)^ formerly
made ufe of by the KuT-opeans for conveying expedi-
tioufly the news of a fhip's arrival at Scanderoon ; but
this pra6tice has been difufed for many years. The
pigeon thvis employed was one that had young at
Aleppo. Upon enquiring into their method of train-
ing them, fome afferted, that they wei'e fent down
to Scanderoon in an open cage, and, as foon as
let go there, would fly diredtly to Aleppo. But I am
more apt to believe what others affirmed, that the bird
was brought to this by firfl: letting it return from fhorter
diftances on the Scanderoo72 road. All agree, that if
the pigeon had been a fortnight at Sca?ideroon., it was
not afterwards to be trufted to fly back, left it fhould
have forgot its ycung, and confequently not be fo
eager to get home. A fmall piece of paper, with the
fhip's name, day of arrival, and what elfe material
could be contained in a very narrow compafs, was
fixed fo as to be under the wing, to prevent its being
deftroyed by wet. They alfo ufed to bathe their
feet in vinegar, with a view to keeping them cool,
fo as they might not fettle to drink or wafh themfelves,
which would have deftroyed the paper. And I have

if) CEnas, five vinago.
(/) Columba tabellaria.

e heard

CITY OF ALEPPO. 67

heard an Englifj gentleman, who remembered that
pradice, fay, that he has known them arrive in two
hours and an half.

Shooting, as a fport, is rarely followed by any of
the natives, though many pradife it to gain a liveli-
hood ; but the diverlions of courling and hawking
are in great efteem among the people of fafhion. They
have both in great perfedion ; but the latter exceeds
any thing of the kind that I have ever met with. The
falcons bred for taking hares and antelopes are the Ba-
raba7i and Sefy^ both large falcons ; and, though caught
wild, they train them in a few days to fly at their
prey.

For antelope-hawking, they chufe fuch of thefe
hawks as they find to be fierce, and eager to feize their
■prey ; and they are taught to fix upon the cheek of
the animal, which retards its motion, fo that the
greyhounds come in.

Though the falcons ufed for hare-hawking will
fometimes, when very hungry, ftrike the hare dead at
once ; yet for this fport they prefer fiich as are not dif-
pofed to fix upon the animal, but v/ho, by repeated
buffetting on the head with their pounces (rifing in the

K 2 air

68 A DESCRIPTION of the

air between each blow), retard the hare, till an ordi-
nary greyhound can come up and feize it.

For bird-hawking, they ufe a large falcon, with
long legs, fomewhat like the gofhawk, which they
call efpeer \ and two fmaller falcons, fliled the one
zcmous^ and the other JJjaheen. This latter muft be
taken out of the neft, for when old they cannot be
trained, and is fo fierce that it will fly at any thing.
If there were not feveral gentlemen now in England
who can atteft it, I fhould fcarce venture to mention,
that with the paheen^ which is about the fize of a pi-
geon, they often take the largeft eagles, of which
in this country there are plenty. They formerly were
trained to feize the eagle under the wing : and fo de-
priving him of the ufe of that part, they fell to the
ground together : but their prefent method, as I am
informed, is to feize him on the back between the
two wings, which has the fame effecSt, but brings him
down more flowly, and fo gives the falconer time to
come in to his hawk's afliftance ; in which if he is
not very expeditious, the hawk is in either cafe fpeedily
deftroyed.

They have alfo a fmall hawk, which they train to
fly at quails ; it much refembles the fpar-hawk.

Befides;

CITY o F A L E P P O. 69

Befides thofe already mentioned for food and fport,
the country produces the black vulture (//), fome few pe-
Hcans (x), the keftrel {j>), white ftork [z], black ftork
(a), great eagle-owl (/^), feveral other kinds of fmaller
owls, the crane [e] ; another beautiful fort of crane
(d), called by the natives querky, which they have
often tame in their houfes or court-yards ; the com-
mon heron [e], the flamingo (/) at fome feafons, the
cormorant (g)y the ftone curlew {h], the raven (/),.
the Rcypn crow {k)y the common or carrion crow (/),
the jackdaw [771), the magpye («), the night raven {p)y
the ftarling (/>), the common blackbird [q] ; a kind of
jay, whofe feathers are beautifully variegated with blue,.

{ia) Vultur niger.

\x) Anocratulus five pelicanus' AldroT.

(;') Tinnunculus vel centheris.

(z) Ciconia alba vulgaris.

(fl) Ciconia nigra.

\h) Buba.

(f) Grus rffav(^ ,^.

\d) Grus Numidica.

(t) Ardea cinerea major five pella.

(/) Phoenicopterus.

\g) Corvus aquaticus.

(/j) CEdicnemus Bellon. Charadrius Gcfucr.

(i) Corvus.

\k) Cornix cinerea frugilega.

(/) Cornix.

(w) Monedula,

(«) Pica varia caudata.

(0) Ardea cinerea minor; Germanis nycticorax*

(p) Sturnus.

(^) Merwla vulgaris.

' green,

70 A DESCRIPTION of the

green, and a fort of brown ; as alfo in the fummer
the locuft bird (r).

The black caps {/), a fort of gull, are in great num-
bers about the city all the winter, and fo tame that the
women call them from the terraces, throwing up pieces
of bread, which thefe birds catch in the air. The
houfe-fwallow (/^), martin [u)., and fwift (r), of which,
befides the common, there is one with a white belly,
that come about the end of Feb?'uary ; and having
hatched their young, difappear about the end o{ yuly.
The fwallow returns again the beginning of OBober^
but ftays not above a fortnight. The hopooe {y) and
bee-eater {z) come in the fpring, and remain all the
fummer and autumn.

Of fmall birds the following- are what I have ob-
ferved. The houfe-fparrow (<?), the chaffinch {b\ the
goldfinch (c), the common linnet [d]^ the ficld-

(r) This bird is about the fize and fhape of a ftarling, and feems of that fpecies.
The bill is fhort, and black ; of which colour are alfo the legs. The plumage on
the body is ot a flefh-colour : the head, neck, wings, and tail, are black.

(/") Larus cinereus tert. Aldrov.

(() Hirundo domeftica.
- {ii) Hirundo agreffis five ruftica Plinii. «

{x) Hirundo apis.

(j) Upupa.

(2) Merops five apiafler.

(a) Paffer domeAicus.

(/>) Fringilla.

{ ) Carduelis. ■ •

i^d) Liaaria vulgaris.

fare

/"^A^f^

'fffj-

JP/.

^^ .

CITY OF ALEPPO. 71

fare (^), the white water- wagtail (y),_the cuckow {g)y
the king-fi£her (/6), the greater fpotted wood-pecker
(/j, the ftone-chatter [k)y the wren (//, a Braftliaji bird
a-kin to the king-fifher {tn]^ green plover (;/), grey
plover {0) ; and abundance of nightingales ( /> },
which not only afford much pleafure by their fong in
the gardens, but are alfo kept tame in the houfes, aiid
let out at a fmall rate to divert fuch as chufe it in
the city ; fo that no entertainments are made in the
fpring without a concert of thefe birds.

There are alfo feveral other birds, which I could
not determine from any books I had, and my occasions
did not allow me to preferve ; befides which I doubt
not there are many others which efcaped my fearches :
fo that I can only add a remarkable fort of bittern (^),

and

(,) Turdus pilaris.

(/) Motacilla alba.

(f) Cuculus.

\h) Ifpida, An veterum Alcyon ?

{;') Picus varius major.

{k) CEnanthus noflra tertia. Mufcicapa tertia Aldrov,

(/) Paffer troglodites Aldrov.

(w) Jaquacati guacu Margrav.

(«) Pluvialis viridis.

((.) Pluvialis cinerea.

(/)) Lufcinea, feu philomela.

{q) See Plate X. where it is drawn with its neck ftretched out, being the com-
mon aftion of this bird. The length of the bird in this pofture, from the point
of the bill to the end of the tail, is 15 inches ; the neck, from the fetting on of
the flioulders, 5^ ; the bill 2 inches; from the tip of one wing to that of the
other, when extended, ^o\ inches. The body of the bird is but fmall, about

the

72 A DESCRIPTION of the

/ "

and a bird fomewhat like a lapwing (r), with a re-
markable fpur in its pinnion : the figiire and defcrip-
tion of both which are annexed.

From the Euphrates and Orojites in the winter, par-
ticularly the Lent of the Chriftians, are brought a fuffi-
cient quantity of fifli for their confumption ; but the
Tm'ks feldom eat any : and indeed moft of them tafte
fo muddy, that they are difagreeabie.

the fize of a rail ; and the colour of the feathers refemble alfo thofe of that bird.
The top of the head, and tips of the wings, are black ; the legs are long, of a
greenhh white colour : the toes four. This bird is common on the rirer Coic
near Aleppo.

(r) See Plate XI. The defcTiption is as follows. From the tip of the bill to
the end of the tail, ii;- inches ; the breadth between the tips of the extended
wings 23 inches ; weight of the bird 4 ounces. The bill is fomewhat more than
an inch in length, the upper mandible being the longeft, and a very little
crooked at the extremity. From the upper part of the thigh to the extremity
of the middle claw, is 7 inches. Thefe long legs are bare of feathers from the
middle of the thigh, and black. The claws are alfo black, three in number ;
of which the middle one is the longeft, and is joined by a membrane to the outer
claw. This bird has no back-claw.

The crown of the head is black ; the neck white, except a ftreak of black,
which is continued from the chin to the breaft. The breaif, with the greater
oart of the belly, is black ; the feathers of the lower part of the belly and the
thi"hs white. The back is of a moiife-colour. The tail is not forked, and about
4 inches in length ; the half next to the body white, the other half black *.
The nine longelf quill-feathers of the wings are black ; the others white, but
b'lack at the tips ; fo that the whole lower part of the wing appears of that
colour. The covert-feathers are of the fame colour with the back f. In the
fore-part of each wing is a little fharp, ftraight, blackirti horn, like a cock's
fpur ; below which for a little way the covert-feathers are white.

'I'his bird is alfo found nigh the river Coic.

* The two outer feathers tipp'd with white,
t Seven of the outer covert-feathers black.

S The

''i^/^

<f Zz

^.

fa.cL;y /2^^,

O^a^fi^./M .

^e

».

i/: ^er/^y ifeu//i.

CITY OF ALEPPO. y2

The different kinds that I have ob/erved are carp
[/), Myftus Niloticus Bellonii (/), barbel {u)^ nafus
(a;), toenia cornuta Schonfeldii (jj/), eel {z) ; and there
are likewife fome other forts that I had not an oppor-
tunity of examining ; but none are in fuch abundance
as what are called the black fjh., with which the mar-
kets are plentifully fupplied from the entrance of the
winter till the beginning of March ; when they are
efteemed out of feafon. As this fiih, to the beft of my
knowledge, is of a genus not yet defcribed, a figure and
defcription of it are inferted [a).

Beiidcs

( f) Cyprinus Rondeletii, Gefnerl, & aliorum.

{t) Myllus Niloticus Bellonii.

(«) Barbus Rondel.

{x) Nafus iAJberti, Aldrov.

(y) Toenia cornuta Schonfeldii.

(zj Anguilla Rondeletii, & omnium fere autorum.

{a) The filh, Plate XII. No. r. in its fhape refcmbles very much the Slliirus
Rondeletii, like it too having no fcales. Its length (from the nofe to the tip of the
tail) 20 inches, weight 20 ounces; but they are ot different fizes. The head
and back are black : the lateral line runs quite from the head to the taij, on
the middle of the fide ; below which, to the belly, the colour generally changes
to a dark purple. Of the fame colour is the under-pan: of the head. 1 he
head is flat, and in length near 5 inches ; the body is round, till within a few
inches of the tail, where it grows flat. The mouth is not fo large in proportion
as that of the filurus. It has no tongue ; and the ft rufture of the mouth and pa-
late agree exaftly with the defcription of that firti. From the edge of the noftril
on each fide arifes a fmall cirrus, and from the angles of the mouth two others,
that are flronger, and twice as long. On the lower lip are four more, the two
external being the longefl. The eyes are fituated near the corner of the mouth,
r.lofe upon the inferior edge of the' upper jaw. The branchiae are four on each
fide ; and all of them have a double row of fliarp points, like the_ teeth
of a comb. It has two fins near the bronchise, confiding of feven radii ; to
the anterior part of which joins a pretty llrong prickly bone. About an mch

L above

74 A DESCRIPTION of the

Befides the fifh which we have mentioned, moil of
thofe that are found in the Aleppo river, are Hkewife
brought from abroad, and known in town by tbe fame
names.

The fheat fifh {b) is alfo fometimofi, to be met with,
and is caught in a lake near Mara/Jj,

I did not imagine, from the appearance of the river
CoiC) or indeed from what is commonly met with at
the tables of the inhabitants, that our lift of fifh c?aught
there would have fwelled to any thing worth mention-
ing ; and yet, upon examination, they were found to^
amount to no lefs than feventeen, and even fome of
thefe not yet defcribed. They are in general very fmall,
occafioned in part by the afTiduous induftry of the
fifhermen ; for at Hylan, and the Votmtain of Fijhy
where they remain unmolefted, they grow to larger:

above the anus arc two fmaller fins. A long fin extends from under the anus to
the tail, as another of the fame kind does from the neck all along the back :.
neither of thefe join with the tail, which is round at the tip, and compofed of
about 22 feathers.

This fifti is found in the river Orontes, and, I believe, alfo in fome ftagnani:
waters near it. The markets of Aleppo are plentifully fupplied with it from
the month of November till the beginning of March. The flefh is red, like beef,
ot a rank tafle ; and though, for want of better, ate much by the people, yet
is efteemed unwholfome. The name it ufually goes by is fimack ilafuai, which
fignilies the black fifti. Its proper name however among the natives is J'lleor.

[t) Silurus Rondeletii, Gefneri, P. 1047.

3 fizes,

CITY OF ALEPPO. 75

fizes, though very rarely fo large as in other parts of
the world.

The lochc (c) is the mofi: common ; the barbel is
lefs than thofe brought from abroad. The bleak
{d) is known by two names; that is, there are two
forts of iifh that appear to agree in every charaderiflic
with the bleak, which neverthelefs are efteemed diffe-
rent ; the firft called mirmeed^ feven or eight inches
long ; the fecond, tiftcif^ is not above one and a half
or two inches, and, they fay, never exceeds. Chub {e)
are plenty ; roches {f\ feldom large ; gudgeons {g) of
three forts ; the firft is much fpotted on the back, and
called tuckle \ the fecond, kureety^ has fewer fpots ;
the third, kalloor^ fcarce any, and is fmaller than the
other two. The mugilis [h) I am lefs certain of than
the reft, but yet it agrees tolerably well with the de-
fcription ; dace (/), carafllus (^), the phoxinus (/) ;
alfo a fifh called by the natives fttnak il iiigkfe {m)y

from

(f) Cobitis fluviati'is barbatula Gefner.

{d) Alburnus Aufonii.

(c) Capito ilve cephalus Gef. p. 215.

(J) Rutikis five riibellus fluviatilis Gefner.

(^) CobiuE fluviatilis Gefner.

(/>) Mugilis vel cephali fluviat. fpec. min.

(,■") Leucifcus Bellonii.

(a) Carafllus fimpliciter diftus.

(1 ) Phoxinus fquamofus major.

(«) The filh, Plate XII. fig. 2. has, upon a flight view, fo riuch the appear-
ance of an eel, and, except its not being fo fat, eats fo like that filh, that though
it is much oftcner brought to the tables of the Europeans at Aleppo than any

L 2 other

76

A DESCRIPTION of the

from a corruption, I fuppofe, of anguilla^ as it has
been commonly imagined to be a kind of eel ; though,
upon examination, it is found to be a genus hitherto un-
defcribed ; and tvvofpecics of myftus (//&<?) : of which

three,.

other firti found in the river Coic, it has never been fufpefted of being any ways
different from the common eel ; and yet, upon examination, it will be found of
^uite another genus.

The head is long and fmall : the extremity of the upper jaw runs out to a nar-
row point, like the bill of a bird ; on each fids of which, a little diftant from the
extreme point, are two tubuli, or procefles. As in the common eel there are
two fins at the g;lls, from the occiput, all along the ridge of the back, fmall
prickles are placed at little diftances, refembling the teeth of a faw. Thefe ter-
minate at the origin of a membranaceous fin, rifmg about four inches from the tail,
and is continued (as in tlie eel) along the lower part of the belly to the anus ; at
which place are alfo found two or three prickles. The colour of the head and
back is blackiili, variegated with dark yellow fpots ; the lower belly white, chan-
ging gradually into a yellov/ifli call:. The fin of the lower belly, near to the anus,
is yellow; the other half fpotted with black. The length of the fiih defcribed
was eleven inches.

(1?^ The fifh, Plate XIII. fig. i. is about four inches long. The head is large
and flat, the body oblong and comprefled. Its colour is moftly of a dark filver.
The eyes are large and protuberant. From the lower jaw arife four cirri ; the
longer meafure one inch, the Ihorter two-thirds of an inch. From the upper
jaw arife two longer, each raeafuring two inches and a half, of a firmer texture
than either thofe of the lower jaw, or of two other fmall ones placed jufl: by the
noflrllf. Between the two long cirri are two fmall tubuli. The whole of the
cirri are of a white colour, excepting the two longeft, which are of a darkifh
colour, like the upper part of the head. The fins are eight in number ; two by
the gills, each furnifhed with a flrong faw-like bone : tv/o fmall onts near the
anus ; one of eight radii, fituated half-way between the anus and the tail ; one
confifling of feven radii on the back. Another fin, of a membraneous and
flefhy texture, arifes from the middle of the back, and is continued all along
to the tail. The tail is forked.

(») Plate XIII. fig. 2. reprefents a fi(h, which in its general form, fomewhat
refembles the above. It is in length three inches : the head is rather flatter : the
mouth has a more inferior fituation, and is in proportion larger, than that of
the former fifh : eyes much fmaller. The cirri, fituated as in the other, are
eight in number, but much fliorrer, thefe that rife from the upper jaw (being the
iongeft) meafuring only one inch ; they are alfo flatter at their origin. They
both agree in the number of their fins ; neither has the faw-like bone in the fin
t)f the back, but ooly in thofe near the gills. The fle/hy fin of the back is much

fmallei

/Q^i^ ^UM!-e p'/f.

pj.Tm.

iZ-./er/y t ^cut/i .

CITY OF ALEPPO. 77

three, as I have met with nodiing like them in other
authors, I have given defcriptions and drawings.
There are alio, on the banks of the river, crabs in
abundance, which are much eat by the native Chri-
ftians, and which often furnifh the tables of the Eu-
ropea7is with a delicate difh.

The inhabitants of Aleppo^ though of different reli-
gions, yet feem to be much the fame people. I v/ifli
I could fay that thofe who profefs Chriftianity were
better than their neighbours. The number of fouls in.
the city and fuburbs is computed at about 235,000, of
whom 200,000 are Turks ^ 30,000 Chrijiiaiis^ and.
5000 yews [p). Of the Chriftians, the greater number-
are Greeks j next to them the Armeniatis, then the
Syrians, and laflly the Maronites \ each of whora.

fmaller than, in the %al:z,uk, and rifes at a xnuch 'greater diftance from the back-
fin. The colour is a pale filver, marbled with grey, particularly the lower parr
of the fins and tail ; the two larger cirri likewife marbled, the others white.

Thefe two fiflies, fig. i . & 2. have no fcales ; and the palate, and other flruc-
ture of the infide of the mouth, is like that of the filurus.

This lall defcribed filh is alfo from the river Coic.

{p) This calculation was made by fome priefts from the harach, (a pole- tax
levied upon the male Chriftians and Jews, after they arrive at a certain age that
they are fuppofed to be capable of work) : an eftimate of the bread confumed
in the city, and the number of thofe who died of the plague in 1 742 ; which
they found to be among the Chriftians in the proportion of five to the hundred,
and from thence they calculated the Turks to be in the fime proportion, and fo ■
Reckoned the number at 300,000 : but as all the Chriftians who can afford it
keep out of the way of infeftion, which but few Turks dare do, it is plain a
much greater proportion of the latter muft die of the difeafe, and fo caufe a fal-
lacy i(t this calculation ; fo that I have only reckoned them at 200,000.

have

78 A DESCRIPTION of the

have a church in the fuburbs called jfudida ; in which
quarter, and parts adjacent, moft of them relide.
The language generally fpoke is vulgar Arabic. The
Turks of condition ufe the lurkiJJj. Moft of the Ar-
menians can fpeak Armeniaji^ fome few Syrians under-
ftand Syriac^ and many of the yews Hebrew ; but
fcarce one of the Greeks underftand a word of Greeks
either ancient or modern.

The people in general are of a middle ftature, rather
kan than fat, indifferently well made, but not either
vigorous or adlive. Thofe of the city are of a fair
complexion ; but the peafants, and fuch as are obliged
to be much abroad in the fun, are fwarthy. Their
hair is commonly black, or of a dark chefnut-colour ;
and it is very rare to fee any other than black eyes
amongft them. Both fexes are tolerably handfome
when young ; but the beard foon disfigures the men ;
and the women, as they come early to maturity (^),
fade alfo as foon, and in general look old by the time
they reach thirty. The greater part of the women are
married from the age of fourteen to eighteen, and of-
ten fooner. The tender paflion of love can have very
little Ihare in promoting matrimony among them, for

[q) Tlieir menfes begin from the nge of twelve to fourteen, and continue till
forty, fometiincs forty-five.' In tnolf they return once in four weeks, and conti-
nue from three to fevtu days.

the

CITY OF ALEPPO. 7gF

the young folks never fee one another till the ceremony
is performed. A flender waift, far from being ad-
mired, is, on the contrary, rather looked on as a de-
formity in the ladies of this country; fothat they do all
they can to make themfelves plump and lufty.

The men are girt very tight round the middle with
a fafh. The womens girdles are not only very flight
and narrow, but loofely put on ; which, with the
warmth of the climate, and frequent ufe of the bagnio,.
is probably one principal reafon why their labours are
much ealier than thofe in Britain ; the mofl delicate
being feldom confined above ten or twelve days, and
thofe of the villages are rarely hindered from going
about their ufual employments the next day. Women
of all conditions fuckle their own children, and feldom
wean them, till either the mother is again with child,.,
or they arrive at the age of three, and fometimes four
years..

The people of diftin^lion in Aleppo may juftly be
eJlcemed courteous and polite, if allowance is made for
that fuperiority which the Mohammedan religion teaches
thofe who profefs it to affume over all who are of an-
other faith. And as this prejudice is obferved to en-
creafe among the people in proportion to their vicinity
to Mechay the natives of Aleppo have ftill a muck

greater

8o A DESCRIPTION of the

greater proportion than thofe of Conjiantinople, Smyrna^
and other parts at a greater diftance ; though, even
here, it has greatly decUned within thefe few years, in-
fomuch that feveral bajhaws have conferred many pubhc
honours and civihties on the Europeans^ that formerly
would have caufed great popular difcontent. As to
the common people, an affedled gravity, with fome
fhare of dillimulation, is too much their charadleriftic.
And though few in the world are more given to harfh
language and quarrelling, yet none are lefs guilty of
fighting. One can feldom pafs a few yards in the ftreet
without being witnefs to fome noify broil ; yet in many
years you may perhaps never fee one blow ftruck, ex-
cept the perfon who gives it is very well afTured that it
will not be returned. But though they are fo prone to
anger upon the moft trifling occaflons, yet no people
in the univerfe can be more calm when it is their in-
tereft fo to be. This, I am forry to fay, is but too ge-
nerally a true reprefentation : but it would be very un-
grateful, as well as vmjuft in me, not to acknowledge
that there many amongft them of all fedrs who deferve
a much better chara6ter, and whom I know, from re-
peated experience, to be perfons of the utmoft honour
and integrity.

Their uRial bread is of wheat flour, not well fer-
mented, made into thin flat cakes ill-baked, and for

2 the

CITY OF ALEPPO. 8i

the moft part ate foon after it comes out of the oven.
The better fort have fmall loaves of a finer flour, well
fermented, and well baked. Befides thefe, there are a
variety of rufks and bifcuits, moft of which are either
ftrowed on the top with the feeds of fefamum or fen-
nel-flower. The Europecms have very good bread,
baked in the Fre?ich manner.

Cofi^ee made very ftrong, and without either fugar
or milk, is a refrefhment in very high efl:eem with
every body ; and a difli of it, preceded by a little wet
fweet-meat (commonly conferve of red rofes, acidu-
lated with lemon-juice), and a pipe of tobacco, is the
ufual entertainment at a vifit. If they have a mind to
.life lefs ceremony, the fweet-meat is omitted ; and, if
they would fhew an extraordinary degree of refped:,
they add fherbet, (fome fyrup, chiefly that of lemons,
mixed with water) a fprinkling of rofe or other fweet-
fcented water, and the perfume, with aloes-wood,
which is brought lafl:, and ferves as a fign that it is time
for the ftranger to take his leave. This is looked upon,
as an entertainment fuificient for the greatefl: men in
the country, only that fuch have a piece of embroidered
or flowered filk thrown over their knee when they drink
the coffee and fherbet : and if it is a \dfit of ceremony
from a bapaw^ or other perfon in power, a fine horfe,
fometimes with furniture, or fome fuch valuable pre-

M ' fent,

82 A DESCRIPTION of the

fent, is made him at his departure. People of inferior
rank (or even others, if they have any favour to afk)
commonly bring a fmall prefent (a flower is frequently
thought fufficient) when they vifit.

Tobacco is fmoked to excefs by all the men, and
many of the women. Even the labourers or handicraft-
tradefmen have conftantly a pipe in their mouths, if
they can afixM-d it. Thofe pipes are made of the twig
of a rofe-bufli, cherry-tree, &'c. bored for that pur-
pofe : thofe of the better fort are five or fix feet long,
and adorned with filver. The bole is of clay, and
often changed ; but the pipes themfelves laft for years.
Many who are in eafy circumftances have lately adopted
the Perfian manner of fmoking the nargeery"(r) ; which
is an inftrument fo conftrufted, that the fmoke of the
tobacco pafies through the water before it comes into
the mouth. The method of drawing it is different
from that of a pipe ; and a good part of the fmoke
feems to defcend fome way into the breaft. The
Perfan tobacco is what they ufe in this inftrument,
which has an agreeable flavour; attended with this fur-
ther advantage, that, when fmoked in this way, neither
the tafte or fmell of it remain after walhing the
mouth.

(') See Plate XIV.

The

CITY OF ALEPPO. 83

The vulgar, in imitation of their fuperiors, have at
the coffee-houfes an ordinary inflrument of the fame
conftrudiion : in this they ufe the common tobacco,
wetted a little with dibbs and water, or an infufion of
raifins, adding at times Jheera [f\ to make it intoxi-
cating ; and they will draw in fuch vaft quantities of
fhioke, that when they throw it out again at the
mouth and noftrils, it appears furprifing where they
found room to contain it.

• ^

Opium is not of fo high efteem with the inhabitants
of Aleppo as at Conjiantinople, and fome other places ;
nor could I ever find the taking it fo general a pradlice
in "Turky as is commonly apprehended, being chiefly
pra6lifed only by debauchees. They who take it to excefs
are commonly ftiled/m«iy; and t\iQTheriac.A?tdromach.
is called in Turkijh tej-'iack^ which perhaps may counte-
nance a conjedlure that this was the original form they
ufed it in. At prefent they not only ufe it in that form,

(/) This appears to be the fame with what in India they call hin^, and is no
other than the leaves of the female hemp, firfl powdered, then put into wet pep-
per, and covered with hot arties till it forms a fort of pafte, which they prefs
into a thin cake, and then cut it into fmall lozenges, and dry it. About half z,
drachm of this put into a' pipe of tobacco, or rather the nargeery, and fmoked
with the tobacco, will make a perfon drunk, or rather mad ; and a few grains,
mixed with any thing fweet (particularly, as they fay, figs, though perhaps what
it is fwallowed in is of little confequence), will, if taken inwardly, have the fame
effeft. They afTert that acids will immediately put a Hop to its effefts. This
intoxicating quality of the hemp is mentioned by Galen.

M 2 but

84 A DESCRIPTION of the

but have various other electuaries or confe6lioiis wherein
it is mixed with aromatics. Some few ufe it pure ;
and the greateft quantity I ever knew taken was three
drachms in twenty-four hours. The immediate effedts
that I obferved it to have upon fuch as were addidred to
it was, that their fpirits were exhilerated, and, from a
doling, deprefled ftate which they fell into after paf-
fing the ufual time of taking their dofe, they became
quite alert. The confequences of a long ufe of it are,
that they foon look old and befotted, like fuch as in
Europe have ruined their conftitutions by hard drink-
ing. And it may be confidered as point of fadt, that
they but feldom live to a good old age : though they
are rarely carried off by droplies, or fuch other dif-
eafes, the ufual confequences of hard drinking amongft
us ; but rather having firft loft their memory, and
moft of their intelledual faculties, they decline, in all
appearance, in the fame way as thofe who link under
the weight of years.

In Aleppo there are a number of public bagnios, which
are frequented by people of all fedts and conditions, ex-
cept thofe of a very high rank, who have moftly baths
in their own houfes. The lirft entrance in the public
bagnio is a large, lofty room ; in the middle of which
is a fountain, with a bafon, which ferves for walhing
the linen, that hangs upon lines at a conliderable height

ali

CITY OF ALEPPO. 85

all over the room. In this firfl apartment are broad
benches, where they drefs and undrefs ; and the air
is here not at all influenced by the heat of the bath,
except it be juft at the door, by which you pafs into a
fmall room, which is pretty warm, and from thence
into a larger very hot. About the fides of thefe two
rooms are placed round ftone-bafons, of about two feet
and a half diameter, with two cocks, one of hot, and
the other of cold water ; fo that you may temper it ac-
cording to your own pleafure, and there are copper-bowls
for you to lave it upon your body. In the corners of the
inner room there are fmall retiring-chambers ; in one
of which there is frequently a ciftern of warm water,.
about four feet deep, and large enough for bathing the
whole body. All thefe rooms are furmounted by cu-
polas; and the inner receive their light from fmall
openings in their domes, which are covered with
glaffes. The outer room receives its light, not only,
from the lanthorn of its dome, but alfo from win-
dows. Some few bagnios are folely for the men,
others are appropriated to the women only ; yet the
generality of them admit both fexes, though at different
times ; that is, the men in the forenoon, and women
in the afternoon.

-When a man goes into the hot room, tlie firfl: thing

he.

86-' A DESCRIPTiO>r of the

he does is to apply the dewa (/), (or medicine for ta-
king ofF the hair), to the pubis and armpits. This is
fufFered to remain till the hair is quite loofe, and then
muft be immediately wajfhed clean away with great
care. After this, one of the fervants of the bagnio be-
gins with chaffing, or kneading violently, firft the tops
of the fhoulders, and then by degrees the whole body.
When he comes to the hand, he pulls the joints of the
fingers, fo as to make each crack feparately ; then lay-
ing the perfon on his back, with his arms acrofs his
breaft, he raifes him forcibly by the back part of the
neck, fo as to make the greateft part of the vertebrae
crack. He then chafFs the back a little more, and,
throwing a quantity of warm water over the whole
body, rubs him hard with a bag made of a fort of coarfe
camelot, which is drawn over the fervant's hand, for
fbme time. He is next rubbed over with a foap-la-
ther J and the whole being wafbed clean off, he puts
one towel round his middle, another round his head,
and perhaps a third over his fhoulders ; in which man-
ner he goes out to the great room, where he generally
fmokes a pipe, drinks coffee, and perhaps eats fome
fruit, before he dreffes.

(() Compofed of 720 drachms of quick-lime, and 90 draclims of orplment
powdered. This they moiflen a little at the time of ufing.

) The

CITY OF ALEPPO. «7

Tfee women having the additional trouble of comb-
ing and wafhing, as well as unpkiting and plaiting
their hair, befides very frequently that of a number of
children to wafli, remain generally in the hot room
for a conliderable time ; but refrefh themfelves at in-
tervals, by going out into the other rooms, where they
fmoke, converfe, and drink coffee, with one or other
of the various parties that are commonly there. Every
company of two or three are attended by an old wo-
man, whofe bufinefs it is to rub and walh them ; but
do not chaff and crack their joints as the men, and
their bag for rubbing is much finer. They alfo ufe
the dewa.

Each company, generally fpeaking, has Its collation,
which they eat in the middle room before drefTmg : and
as the bagnio is the principal place where they have an
opportunity of fhowing their fine cloaths, feeing a num-
ber of company, or enjoying the freedom of converfa-
tion, though with their own fex only, it is not to be
wondered that they are very fond of it, though their
entertainment may not be fo elegant as Europeans
might expert.

The firft time a woman of the country (whether
Chrijiian^ Turk, or Jew) goes to the bagnio after child-
."■: • 1 bearing,

\§S A D E SC R I P T I O k o:f tHE

bearing, (he muft have what they call the JJjdood ;
'which is thus performed. She is fet down in one of
the wafhing-places of the inner room, and the mid-
wife rubs her over with a compoiition of ginger, pep-
per, nutmegs, and other fpices, made into a fort of
ointment, or rather ele6tuary, with honey. In this
manner fhe fits for fome time, the other women in the
iliean while linging and warbling with their voices in a
particular tone, which is their ufual way of rejoicing in
this country. After this the lady is wafhed clean,
and the ceremony finifhed. • -This they imagine
ftrengthens them, and prevents a great many difor-
ders that would otherwife enfue after delivery ; and
they ufe it alfo after recovery from any very fevere fit
of ficknefs.

The people here have no notion of the benefit of
■ exercife, either for the prefervation of health, or cu-
ring difeafes ; and it is with relu6lance that they ufe
much, either for bufinefs or pleafure. To walk or
ride to the gardens once or twice a- week at the proper
feafons, is as much as moft of them do for the laft
mentioned purpofe ; and the other is different, accord-
ing to the nature of their employments.

The people of condition, and their dependents,
fhould however be excepted in fome inftances, they

3 being

CITY OF ALEPPO. 89

being commonly very a6live on horfeback, and in fport-
ing, or the jareed («), ufing very violent exercife. This
however is but feldom, and hardly compenfates for the
time they fpend in that indolent indulgence, of lolling
on their divans, which is the way the generaUty pafs
much the greateft part of their time.

As they have no coaches, perfons of condition ride on
horfeback in the city, with a number of fervants walk-
ing before them, according to their rank ; which,
though it may not be* fo convenient in bad weather,
has certainly a more manly, if not a grander appearance,
than our coaches. The ladies, even of the greateft fi-
gure, are obliged to walk on foot, both in the city,
and when they go to any garden, if it is but at a mo-
derate diftance. In longer journies, the women of
rank are carried by mules in a litter, clofe covered up ;
and thofe of inferior condition on thefe occafions are
commonly flowed one on each fide of a mule, in a fort
of covered cradles.

Moft of the natives go to bed in good time, and rife
early in the morning. They fieep in their drawers, and

(?/) Jareed IS a kind of javelin, or fmall ftick, about two feet and a half long, which
they learn to throw very dextroufly, fo as to go pointed as a dart. The exercife here
meant is the throwing this when on horfeback, a mock-fighc with this we.ipon be-
ing a common entertainment : and it is furprifing to fee with what dexterity
they manage their horfes, fo as to avoid running one againfV another, when
uumbers are galloping fekmingly in the greateft diforder.

N at

90

A DESCRIPTION of the

at leaft one or two waiftcoats, and fome of them in win-
ter in their furs. Their bed conlifts of a matrafs laid
on the floor, and over this a flieet (in winter a carpet,
or fome fuch woollen covering), the other fheet being
fowed to the quilt. A divan-cufhion often ferves for a
bolder and pillow ; though fome have a bolder and pil-
low as we have. V/hen the time for repofe draws nigh,
they flt down on this matrafs, and fmoke their pipe,
till they find themfelves fleepy ; then they lay them-
felves down, and leave their women or fervants to cover
them vv^hen afleep ; and many bf the people of fafliion
are lulled to reft by foft mufic, or ftories told out of the
Arabian Nights Rntertainment^ or fome other book of
the fame kind, which their women are taught to re-
peat for this purpofe. If they happen to wake in the
night, they fit up, fill their pipe, have a difh of coffee
made, and fometimes, efpecially in the long winter-
nights, eat fome of their fweet paftry, and fo fit till
they drop afieep again. In the fummer their beds are
made in their court-yard, or on the houfe-top ; in the
winter they chufe for their bed-chamber the fmallefh
and loweft-roofed room on the ground-floor. There is
always a lamp burning, and often one or two pans of
charcoal ; which fometimes proves of bad confequence
even to them, and would certainly fjffocate fuch as
have not been accuflomed to this bad pradice.

The

C I T Y OF ALEPPO. 9i

Ithe cbffee-houfes are only frequented by the vul-
gtff/ The mafters of thefe houfes have often, for the
entertainment of their cuftomers, a concert of mufic, a
ftory-teller, and, in time of Ramadan particularly, an
obfcene, low kind of puppet-fhow, and fometimes tum-
blers and jugglers ; and thefe, properly Ipeaking, are
all their public diverfions.

Their amufements within doors are playing at chefs,
in which they are very expert, and a fort of backgam-
mon, both borrowed from the Per/tans ; draughts^
mankala, tabuduk, and the play of the ring, as they
call it, which is what the great men often amufe them-
felves with in the winter-evenings. It confifts merely
in guefling what coftee-cup, out of a number that are
placed on a large falver, the ring is hid under. They
have feveral engaged in the play on each fide ; and the
parties that win have the privilege of blacking the faces
of their antagonifts, putting fools caps on their heads,
and making them fland before them while they fing
extempore fongs in their own praife, and in deriiion of
the lofers. But it is only their fervants, or ordinary
people, that they treat in this manner ; and fome of
thefe, efpecially if they have any turn to buffoonry,
are always of the party on purpofe.

N 2 , Though

92 A DESCRIPTION of the

Though fome Chriftians have learned of the Euro-
feafts to play for money ; yet thefe games are only
ufed by the lurks for amufement, and chiefly to pafs
the long winter-evenings. Sometimes, 'tis true, they
will go fo far as to play for an entertainment.

Dancing is not, as in Europe, reckoned an accom-
plifhment for people of fafhion, and is fcarce pra<5lifed,
even among the vulgar, but by fuch as make a trade of
it. Their dexterity does not conflft in agility, but
chiefly in the motion of the arms and body, putting
themfelves in difl'erent attitudes, many of which (par-
ticularly of the women) are none of the moft decent*
Their manner is not ill defcribed by Juvenal {x).

At their feftlvals they have alfo wreftlers as a part of
their entertainment. They have ftill a refemblance to
the athlctce of the ancients, in anointing their naked
bodies, having nothing on but a pair of breeches, and
ftrut and vaunt fo much at their entry as {eems to pro-
mife great matters ; but they make but very forry fi-
gures in their performance.

(*) Forfitan expeftes ut Gadttana canoro
Incipiat prurire choro plaufuque probata
Ad terrain tremulo defcendant clune pudlac. Juv. fat. xL I. 162.

I fliould

CITY OF ALEPPO.

93

I flioiild not omit among their amuferaents to men-
tion buffoons, who are the conftant attendants at all
merry-makings, and without whom their mirth and
converfation would Toon languifh, or conclude.

The mufic of the country is of two forts ; one for
the field, the other for the chamber. The firft makes
part of the retinue of the bajhaws^ and other great mili-
tary officers, and is ufed alfo in their garrifons. It con-
fifts of a fort of hautboy ( j/), fhorter, but fliriller than
ours ; trumpets [z)y cymbals (tf), large drums (^), the
upper head of which is beat upon with a heavy drum-
fbick, the lower with a fmall fwitch. A vizi?' -bajl jaw has
nine of thefe large drums, while a baJJjaw of two tails has
but eight, the diflindlion by which the mufic of one may
be known from that of the other. Befides thefe, they
have fmall drums (c), beat after the manner of our ket-
tle-drums. This mufic at a diftance has a tolerable
good effed:.

Their chamber-mufic confifis of a dulcimer [d ), guit-
tar {e)y dervifes flute (/"), blown in a very particular man-

(>) Zumr.. (<:) Nakara;.

(z) Napheer. [d) Santeer.

(rt) Snooge. (f) Tamboor..

[b) Tabble. (/) Naii..

uer;

94

A DESCRIPTION qf the

ner ; Arab fiddle (^), a couple of fmall drums, and
the d!ir(/'), which ferves chiefly to beat time to the voice,
the worft of all their mufic ; for they bellow fo hi-
deoufly, that it fpoils what without it would be in fome
degree harmonious. This diff is a hoop, (fometimes
with pieces of brafs fixed in it to make a jingling) over
which a piece of parchment is d-iftended. It is beat
with the fingers, and is the true tympanum of the
ancients ; as appears from its figure in feveral relievos,
reprefenting the orgies o£ Bacchus y and rites of Cybele.
It is worth obferving, that, according to yuvenal^ the
Romans had this inftrument firfi: from, hence (/). The)(
alfo have a kind of flute, like the ancient ^r/VzAi* ; but
it is not much ufed among them, there being but few
that can play upon it.

Befides the above mentioned inftruments, they have
likewife a fort of bagpipe, which numbers of idle fel-
lows play upon round the ikirts of the town, making it
a pretence to afk a prefent of fuch as pafs.

(g) Kamanjee.

(/j) Diff.

(.) Jampridem Syrus in Tiberim defluxit Orontes,
Et linguam & mores, & cum tibicine chordas
Obliquas nccnon gentilia tympana (ecum
Vcxit. Juv. fat. iii. 1. 6^.

3 Though

/^^/^^ ^a/7'' </.

PI XTV

t!-,//--^- /■

CITY OF ALEPPO. 95

Though they underftand the different meafures in
mufic, and have names for them ; yet they have no
method of writing the notes. They learn entirely by
the ear ; yet it is obfervable, that when feveral per-
fons play together they keep time very exactly. They
have neither bafs, nor other different parts in mufic, all
playing the fam^.

The print annexed reprefents a 'Turkifo concert,
drawn from the life ; in which care has been taken
alio to fhow, through a window, the inner court-yard
of a houfe, with the little garden, fountain, &'c. and
through another is feen part of a mofque, with the
minaret, from whence the imaums call the people to
prayers. The drefs of the performers alfo fliov/ the
different kinds wore by the ordinary people, according
to their fedt, &'c. The firft, v/ho beats the diff, re-
prefents that of an ordinary Turk ; the next a flo-
venly ordinary Chriftian ; the middle figure is a Der-
vife ; the fourth is a Chriftian of a middle rank, play-
ing upon the Arab fiddle. What is peculiar in his,
drefs, is, that the fafh of the turbant is ftrip'd with,
blue, and hfs flippers red. The laft is an ordinary
fellow, beating the fmall drums with his fingers, as
they often do, inftead of drumfticks. His head-drefs
is fuch as is worn by many Janizarksy and commonly

96 A DESCRIPTION of the

by the Arahgarkes^ a race of Armenians, who attend
upon the Europea?is,

Whatever jfigure the inhabitants of this country
made formerly in Uterature, they are at prefent very
io-norant. Many bajhaws, and even farmers of the
cuftoms, and confiderable merchants, cannot either read
or write. It muft be obferved, however, that their
youth of late years are better taught than formerly ;
though, even at this time, their education feldom ex-
tends farther than juft to read a little of the Koran,
and write a common letter, except fuch as are bred
to the law or divinity, which are clofely allied in this
country. The profeffors of both ufually pretend like-
wife to fome fkill in phyfic. In the time I lived there,
only one inhabitant of the place underftood enough of
aftronomy to be able to calculate the time of an eclipfe ;
for which he was looked upon as a very extraordinary
perfon. Numbers there are who imagine they under-
ftand judicial aftrology, in which the natives have great
faith : but it would take up too much time even fb
much as to mention their various fuperfcitions in this
and many other refpedts.

In the city there are a great number of colleges, but
very little taught in them ; they being generally built by
fuch as have raifed great eftates by opprellion, and other

bad

/

G I T Y o F A L E P P O. 97

bad means, and arc intended by the founders, partly aji
an atonement for their wickednefs, and partly to fecure
an eflate in the fimily, their dcfcendents being com-
monly appointed curators of thefe endowments, and
feldom fail to apply to their own private ufe what feemed
intended for public benefit ; and thus the fchool foon
runs to decay. Many of thefe have a fort of library be-
longing to them, and a few private men among the
learned have fome books ; but thefe are very rarely good
for much, and are kept more through vanity, than for
any ufe they either make of them themfelves, or fuffer
to be made of them by others.

Though the Tti^^h are predeftinarians, they are taught
however to believe, that tho' God has afflidied mankind
with difeafes ; yet he has fent them alfo the remedies,
and they are therefore to ufe the proper means for their
recovery : fo that practitioners in phyfic are here well
efteemed, and very numerous. Tliefe are chieEy na-
tive Chriftians, and a few yews. The 'Tu7'ks feldom
make this their profefiion. Not one of the natives, how-
ever, of any fedl; is allowed to prad:ife without a licence
from the Hakeem Ba/hee ; but a few fequins are fuffi-
cient to procure this to the moft ignorant ; and fuch
moft of them are egregiouily, for they have no colleges
in which any branch of phyfic is taught : and as the pre-
fent conllitution of their government renders the diflec-

O tion

98 A DESCRIPTION of the

tion of human bodies impradicable, and that of brutes
is a thing of which they never think, they have a very
imperfect idea of the fituation of the parts, or their
functions.

Of the ufe of chemiftry in medicine they are totally
ignorant ; but now and then one amongftthemjufl ac-
quires a fmattering enough of alchemy to beggar his
family by it.

Many of them are brought up under mafters who live
by the profeffion of phyfic ; but thefe are feldom ca-
pable of teaching them much ; and, to conceal their
own ignorance the more effedlually, they commonly pre-
tend to a number of fecrets not to be difclofed : fo that
fuch of them as know any thing, muft obtain it by their
own reading and obfervation. But to the latter they are
feldom much indebted, as they look upon whatever they
find in any book as an eflabliflied fad, and not to be
by them contradificd, however oppoiite it may appear
to their own experience.

The books they have amongfl: them are fome of the
Arabian writers ; Ebenfina in particular, whofe autho-
rity is indifputable with them. They have likewife fome
tranflations of Hippocrates -^ Galen^ Diofcorides^ and a few
other ancient Greek writers. But their copies are in ge-
neral

CITY OF ALEPPO. 99

iieral miferably incorrect. Plence it may eafily be feen,
that the ftate of phyfic among the natives in this coun-
try, as well as every other fcience, is at a very low ebb,
and that it is far from being in a way of improve-
ment.

But, ignorant as they are in regard to phyfic, they are
great mafters in temporifing, and know how to fuit a
plaufible theory to the patient's way of thinking ; in
doing which they fcruple not to quote the authority of
Hippocrates^ Galen, and Ebenftna, in fupport of opi-
nions the moft ridiculous and abfurd.

It is from the pulfe alone that they pretend, and are
expected to difcover all difeafes, and alfo pregnancy :
from their confidence in which laft they are daily the
death of numbers of infants, by perfuading the women
that their complaints are from obflrudions, and giving
them medicines accordingly ; while many others, under
real difeafes, are amufed with the hopes of pregnancy
till paft. recovery.

Their practice is very trifling in mofl cafes, and
commonly adapted rather to fuit the opinion of the fick,
and thofe about them, than the cure of the difeafe.
While they apprehend the fick to be in no danger, they
attend clofe, and give quantities of medicines ; but, as

O 2 foon

100 A DESCRIPTION oft he

foon as they think they are in danger, they do not go
near them unlefs fent for, and then give no medicines, but
advife the relations to ufe fome trifling things ; for which
indeed they have fome reafon, for commonly the laft
medicine taken is held to be the caufe of the patient's
death.

What has been faid with regard to praditioiiers in>
phyfic, relates folely to the natives ; for the Eufopeam,
of whom there are feveral, practife in their own way,
and are greatly refpefted by the inhabitants ; though,
partly to fave their money, and partly from a notion of
their giving violent medicines, they feldom apply to
them, till they have tried their own do6lors to no pur-
pofe.

Though their bards are the laft mentioned, yet they
are far from being the leaft worthy of notice ; for at
times a poetical genius fhows himfelf among them, and
produces fome things which they greatly efteem.

A particulaj? dcfcription of their drefs, as it would be
foreign to my purpofe, lb it would carry me beyond my
propofcd limits. Some tolerable idea of it may be ga-
thered from Plate XIV. XV. and XVII. [k). All that I

fhall

(«') Explanation of Plate XV. The -"windows p.re reprefent-ed as opening on the outep
coutt-yards of a great hciife, where the colonadc, or gallery, and ftair-cafe, are

eafily.

r I a . 1^ .fnc.*>. /oo.

/^^ /^'

. /^^.-^- ■'■''■''■'■/ ■ rr

CITY OF ALEPPO. loi

fliall fay, therefore, on this head is, that, notwith-
ftanding their peculiar attachment to ancient cuftoms^
they are of late become not a little extravagant in this
article. And though their fafhions do not alter fo
quick as in Etrrope^ yet they do alter, and that not
feldom. Such of their fmgularities, however, in re-
fped: to drefs and ornament, as feem more imme-
diately to regard their health, it may be proper to-
mention.

Some of the old men dye their beards, and the old
women their hair, of a red colour, with henna, which
gives them a very whimfical appearance j and many of

eafily dlflinguiihed. In the front of the pifture, the Turldih method of decor
rating then- rooms with Arab infcri prions, painting and carving, is exhibited'.
The carpet, matrafs, and' cnfhions, denote the divan properly furnifhed ; in the
neareft corner of which fits a kaJee, fmoking the nargeery after the Perfian'
manner. He is d'reffed in what they call a ferragee, which is lined with fur, and-
has wide fleeves. This drefs, though moft commonly worn by the lawyers, is
alfo fometimes wore by other perfons of diftinftlon : but the turbant is of that
fort which is peculiar to that profeflion. In the centre fits ■xjardar, or agaof the
Janizaries. The form of his turbant is that which belongs to the officers of that
body ; but that of his robe is what is wore indifcrimlnately by all well-dreded people,^
only peculiar to fuch vcfts as are lined with iliort-haired fi;rs, as fabk, ermin, fquir-
rel, i^c. which they wear in the fpring and autumn. He is drinking coffee ; and"
before him Hands a fervant to receive the cofFee-cup, in that drefs, and humble,^
fubmillive attitude in which they are accuftomed to wait upon their mafters. In'
the farther corner firs a bafliaw, fmoking a pipe after the manner of the Turks.
His turbant is in the form that nil the people of faihion in that country wear, and his
robe that which conftiiutes a full drefs in the winter ; when it is lined M-ith long-
haired fur, fuch as is taken from the ounce, foxes of difTerent kinds, lie. TiiC
whole forms a fcene of a Turkifh entertainment.

Plate XVI. reprefents a Turkifh lady of condition in the proper drefs of
Aleppo. She is reprefented -s fitting carelefsly on a divan, fmoking a f^pv>
sad her fervant prefenting a dlih of cpfTec in the ufjai. manner.

102 A DESCRIPTION of the

the men dye their beards blcick, to conceal their

age (/).

Few of the women paint, except among the Jews^
and fuch as are common proilitutcs ; but they generally
black their eye-brows, or rather make artificial ones,
with a certain compolition which they call hattat [m).
This practice, however, is daily declining.

Upon a principle of ftrengthening the /ight, as v/ell
as an ornament, it is become a general pradice among
the women, to black the infide of their eye-lids, by
applying a powder called ijmed [n). Their method of

(/) They have feveral methods of doing this ; but the moft common compofi- ,
tion is the following, viz. Take 120 drachms of fumach, and boil it in 360
drachms of water, to the confumption of two-thirds of the liq-uor. In this de-
coftion, when flrained, infnfe the following ingredients for fome days ; green vitriol,
galls, allum, frelh branches of walnut-tree, of each 5 drachms. With this the
beard being firfl waflaed, and well dried, is rubbed over, and the tinfture fuf-
fered to remain on about the (pace of an hour, after which they warti with
warm water.

(m) The compolition is as follows. Put 60 drachms of oil into an earthen
velfel on a gentle fire ; and, when it begins to boil, throw in by degrees 60
drachms of galls : cover the velfel with a fmooth /tone, and let it remain on the
fire till the galls become of a black, burnt colour. It is then to be removed
from the fire, and what is found flicking to the cover being taken off, mixed
with the finer part of what remains in the velfel. To this mufl be added the
following ingredients, finely powdered, crude fal. ammoniac 20 drachms,
fff. uft. 20 drachms, henna 120 drachms : the whole, by kneading with the hands,
is formed into little pieces or tablets. It is applied with a little bit of wet
flick.

('/) This is made of a mineral fubfiance, called alfo Ifpahanv, from the place
it is brought from. It appears to be a rich lead-ore, and is prepared by roalfing
it in a quince, apple, or trufle : then it is levigated with oil of fweet almonds on
a marble-flone. If intended to llrengthen the eyes, they often add flowers of
olibanum or amber.

7 doing

CITY OF ALEPPO. 103

doing it is by a cylindrical piece of filver, fteel^ or
ivory, about two inches long, made very fmooth, and
about the fize of a common probe. This they wet
with water, in order that the powder may flick, to it ;
and applying the middle part horizontally to the eye,
they {hut the eye-lids upon it, and fo drawing it through
between them, it blacks the infide, leaving a narrow
black rim all round the edge. This is fometimes prac-
tifed by the men, but is then regarded as foppiin.

Another fino;ular method of adornino- themfelves
the women have, which is, by dying their feet and
hands with henna ; which is brought in great quantities
from Egypt^ chiefly for that purpofe, as the practice
is general amongft all fed:s and conditions. The com-
mcn way is only to dye the tips of the fingers and
toes, Jijad fome few fpots upon the liands and feet, and
leave them of a dirty yellov/ colour, the natural tinc-
ture from the henna, which to a European looks very
difagreeable. But the more polite manner is to have
the greatell part of the hands and feet flained in form
of rofes, and various figures, and the dye made of a
very dark green (<?). This however, after fome days,

begins

(') The method of applying the henna Is thus. They take fome of the henna
in powder, and ranking it into a p.ifle with water, roll or fpin it out into hnall
threads ; then they take a piece of leaven, and with a rolling-pin roll it out into a
Very thin cake, which they cut out into proper forms, for covering the hands, feet,

fijigdrs,.

104 A DESCRIPTION of the '
begins to change, and at laft looks as na% as the

■{.^ther.

The women m fome of the villages, and all the
Arabs and Ch'mgajias (o), wear a large iilver or gold
ring through the external cartilage of their right nof-
tril. I have izzw fome of at lead an inch and an half
diameter. It is ufiial for thefe people likewife, by way
of ornament, to mark their imder-lip, and fometimes
rheir breafts and arms with a blue colour. This is
done by pricking the part all over with a needle, and
then rubbing it with a certain powder, which leaves a
diftindt and indelible mark, like that which one fo of-
ten fees among the failors and common people in

Rnglcmd.

fingers, and toes ; and upon this the threads of the henna-pafte are placed hi the
forms they hitend to imprhit upon the parts. A piece of the henna-pafle is ap-
phed to the tip of each finger and toe ; and then the pieces of leaven-cake,
prepared as above, are tied on to the different parts they are intended for, and
fuffered to remain there for two or three hours ; at the expiration of which all
is taken off, and the mark of the feveral figures made with the henna are found
imprinted on the parts to which they were applied. They then cover the whole
hands and feet with a palte made of wheat-flour, a fmall proportion of crude
fal ammoniac, and a little quicklime, with a fuflicient quantity of water, which
in about half an hour turns all the parts that had been before dyed of a dirty
red or yellow, with the henna, into a fort of black, or rather very dark green
colour.

( p) Chinganas are a race of people, who are generally efieemed to be the fan'.e
with our Gypfies. They very much refemble Arabs, and, like them, live under
tents ; but they are not acknowledged by them, or efteemed orthodox Moflems.
They are extremely poor, and fome few are lodged in tents round the fkirts of
the town all the year round, and hire themlelves for labourers, and other menial
offices ; but the greateft number come thither in the fpring from all parts, to
aliili: in reaping the corn.

With

CITY OF ALEPPO. 105

With refpe6l to the people in general, thefe remarks
may be fufficient. But as, in their manner of living,
the Turks differ from the Chriftians, and the Jews from
both, it may not be improper to take a view of each.

To begin with the Turks ^ who are the moft; nume-
rous ; fuch as can afford, and dare fhow it, live well,
and are far from being the abftemious people that many
imagine them to be. As foon as they get up in the
morning, they breakfaft on fried eggs, cheefe, honey,
leban, &'c. About eleven o'clock in the forenoon in
winter, and rather earlier in fummer, they dine. Their
table is round, and as well as their dilhes, is made either
of copper tinned, or for baJJjaws, and other perfons of'
high diftin<aion, of filver. It is placed upon a ftool about
a foot or fourteen inches high. A piece of red cloth,
cut in a round form, is fpread upon the divan under
the table, to prevent that from being foiled j and a long
piece of filk-ftuff is laid round, to cover the knees of
fuch as fit at the table, which has no covering but the
victuals. Pickles, fallads, fmall bafons of leban, bread,
and fpoons, are difpofed in proper order round the
edo-es. The middle is for the diflies, which (among
the great people) are brought in one by one ; and,
after each perfon has ate a little, they are changed.
Their fingers ferve them for knives and forks ; but for

P liquids

io6 A DESCRIPTION of the

liquids tliey are obliged to have fpoons, which are made
of wood, horn, ortortoife-fhell, for filveror gold is not
permitted them for that purpofe by their religion.
The firft difh is generally a fort of broth, or foup (^),
and the laft pilaw. The intermediate difhes, which,
generally fpeaking, are numerous, coniift of mutton
cut into fmall pieces, and roafted (r), or ftewed with
herbs and cicers (f) ; ftewed pigeons, fowls, or other
birds, which are commonly fluffed with rice and fpices.
A whole lamb, fluffed with rice, almonds, raiUns, pifla-
ches, &'c. and flewed, is a favourite difh with them {t).
Rice, and minced meat, wrapped up in vine-leaves {u)y
beet, endive, borrage, &'c. or fluffed into cucumbers [x),
mad apples {y) (badinjans), gourds, quinces, &^c. and
ftewed, they are very fond of, and call mahJJjee, in
Turkijh dolmah^ with the name of the enveloping ve-
getable added, as badinjan mahJJjee^ &c. Paftry, both
with meat, and of the fweet or fruit kind, they would
make very well, if the badnefs of their butter did not fpoil
them. A large pilaw, with a difh of fweet ftarch (^),
which they fometimes eat with it, comes laft, except-
ing the khujhaf-j which is a very thin fyrup, with cur-

(f) Shorba.

(i/) Yaprak.

.:

(r) Kabab.

{x) Khelar Mafhfee.

(/) Vahay.

{y) Badinjan Mahlh.ee.

{t) Kharoof Mahfhee.

(z) Paloofa.

rans,

CITY OF ALEPPO. 107

rans, raifins, dried apricots, piftaches, flices of pears,
apples, or the like, fwimming in it ; and of this each
perfon takes a large fpoonful, with fpoons brought in
with it on piirpofe, and iinifhes the repaft. Water is
their liquor at table, and after dinner they drink cof-
fee. Almoft all their difhes are either greafy with fat,
or butter pretty high-feafoned with fait and fpices ;
many of them made four with verjuice, pomegranate,
or lemon-juice ; and onions and garlick often com-
plete the feafoning.

They fup early, that is, about five o'clock in the
winter, and fix in the fummer, in much the fame
manner that they dine ; a-nd in winter, as they often
vifit one another, and fit up late, they have a collation
of hjtnafy {a)j or other fweet difhes.

In the fummer their breakfaft commonly confifts of
fruits ; and, befides dinner and fupper, they often,
within the compafs of the day, eat water-melons, cu-
curribers, and other fruits, according to the feafon.

It is to be obferved, that they are not fo regular in
their times of eating as the Europeans : and though it

(a) Keinnfy is a mixture of flonr and water, made jiift thin enough to run
through the holes of a velTel they have on purpofe, held over a hot copper plate,
which dries it quickly ; fo that it has the appearance of a number of threads.
This is mixed with butter and honey, and baked in the oven.

P 2 fhould

io8 A DESCRIPTION of the

fhould happen that they are but juft rofe from table,
they cannot withfland the invitation of another com-
pany, but fit down and eat gain with them.

The common people have no fuch variety as has
been before defcribed. Bread, dibbs, leban, butter,
rice, and a very little mutton, make the chief of their
food in the winter ; as rice, bread, cheefe, and fruits,
do in the fummer. Their principal meal is in the even-
ing, when they return to their families from the exer-
cife of their refpedtive occupations.

Through the whole of the month of Ramadan [b\
they faft from the dawn of day till funfet, and do not
either eat or fmoke : but, as foon as the fun is down, they
eat a hearty meal ; and, fuch as can afford to fleep in
the day, keep eating and drinking the greateft part of
the night, living more luxurioufly than at other times,
and generally fpending as much money in that one, as
in any other two months- in the year : but the poor
labourers, or thofe whofe buHnefs calls them abroad in

{h) The faft of Ramadan happens fucceffively in every feafon of the year : for as
the Turks keep the hinar months, without any allowance, as the Jews have, to
make them correfpond with the feafons, fo they lofe about eleven Jays in every
folar year ; and by this means the month of Ramndan anticipates about that num-
ber of days every year. In other affairs, that are requiiite to fall at particular
feafons, as farming their duties on tobacco, i^c. they obferve the Greek months,
which correfpond to the Julian calendar.

the

CITY OF ALEPPO. 109

the day, fuffer a great deal during this faft, more efpe-
cially when it happens in the fummer.

Though wine and fpirits are only drank by the irre-
ligious and licentious among the 'Turhy yet the num-
ber of thefe is more than what from appearance one
would apprehend : for as thefe liquors are prohibited
by their religion, they chiefly drink in fecret at their
gardens, or privately in the night ; and, if they once
begin, they generally drink to great excefs whenever
they can come at liquor.

By their religion they are obliged to wafli before their
prayers, which are five times in the twenty -four hours
{c\ and alfo every time they eafe nature. As they eat
chiefly with their fingers, they are likewiie under a ne-
cefllty to wafli after every meal, and the more cleanly
do it before meals alfo. Befides, every time they co-
habit with their women, they muft go to the bagnio
before they can fay their prayers ; fo that they are al-
mofl: all day long dabbling in water.

(c) Snllah II Suhb, at day-break.

Sollah tl Dohr, at noon.

SaHah il AJfr. The common opinion is, that this praying-time is mid-way
between noon and funfet ; but their true calculation, I have
been told, is as long after noon as half the diflance of time
between Sallah il Subh and Satluh il Duhr amounts to.

SaUah il Muggreh, at funfet.

Sallah il Jjhie, at an hour aud a half after funfet.

Though

no A DESCRIPTION OF THE

Though by law, or rather from an implied tolera-
tion {ci)i they are allowed four wives, and as many
concubines, or more properly female-flaves, as they
can or care to maintain ; yet as they are obliged
to pay money for their wives, few of any rank have
more than two ; the poorer fort have feldom more
than one, and hardly ever a concubine. Thofe of mid-
dling circumftances rarely exceed three or four ; though
fome I have known, of greater opulence, have kept
forty, exclufive of thofe employed in the menial of-
fices of the family. It may appear ftrange how fuch
a number fliould agree tolerably well together ; and in
fad: the mafter of the family hath \^ery frequently
enough to do to keep the peace among them. But
if v/e confider, that they are accuftomed from their
infancy to a fervile obedience, that the hufband can at
pleafure divorce his wife without afligning any caufe, and
fell fuch of his flaves as he has had no children by, it
will not appear fo extraordinary that they live together in
a tolerable degree of harmony. On the other hand,
the wife has alfo a check upon him ; for if he di-
vorces his wife, it is attended with expence, as he mud
not only lofe all the money fhe at firft coll; him, but

(d) The Koran exprefsly fays, that they fhall have but four women, whether
wives or concubines (Sale's Koran, ch. iv. p. 60.) ; and mofi: of the learned among
them know this flriftly to be their law : but what I have meiuioned above being the
common praftice, the far greater part of the people believe it to be lawful. See
Sale's Koran, Preliminary Difcourfe, § 6. p. 133.

there

CITY OF ALEPPO. Ill

there is o-enerally a fum equal to that ftipuiated by the
contraa:, to be paid in cafe he fhoiild at any time di-
vorce her.

In this country marriages are commonly brought
about by the ladies : and the mothers, in order to find
out a proper wife for their fons, take all opportunities
of introducing themfelves into company where they ex-
ped to have a fight of a yoimg woman who may be
difengaged ; and, when they have met with one they
think will be agreeable, they propofe to the mother a
match between her and the young man. This puts the
family upon enquiring into his charader and circumftan-
ces ; and, if matters are likely to be adjufted, fiie is for-
mally demanded of her parents by the father, the price is
fixed that he is to pay for her, and a licence is procu-
red from the kade, for fuch a perfon to marry fuch a
woman : each of the young folks then appoint a proxy,
who meet with the ijnaum, and feveral of the male re-
lations; and, after witneffes have been examined to
prove thofe are the proxies regularly appointed, he afks
the one. If he is willing to buy the bride for fuch a
fum of money ? and the other, If he is fatisfied with
the fum ? To which having received anfwers in the af-
firmative, he joins their hands ; and the money being
paid, the bargain is concluded with a prayer out of the

Koran.

6 T^^

112 A DESCRIPTION of the

The bridegroom is at liberty after this to take his
bride home whenever he thinks proper ; and the day
being fixed, he fends a meffage to her family, ac-
quainting them with it. The money which he paid
for her, is laid out in furniture for one chamber, and
cloaths and jewels, or gold ornaments for the bride,
whofe father makes fome addition, according to his
circumftances, which are fent with great pomp to the
bridegroom's houfe three days before the wedding. He
invites, at the fame time, all his friends and acquain-
tance, and, if a man in power, a great many others, for
all who are invited fend prefents, whether they think
proper to go or not. Rejoicings are made, and a fort of
open houfe, is kept for feveral days preceding the
wedding. The women, on the day appointed, go
from the bridegroom's to the bride's houfe, and bring
her home to his, accompanied by her mother, and
other female relations, where each fex make merry in
feparate apartments till night. The men then drefs the
bridegroom, and give notice to the women ; upon which
he is introduced into the court-yard of tlie womens
apartment, and there met by his own female relations,
who dance and fino- before him to the flair's foot of the
bride's apartment, who is brought half way down ftairs
to receive him, being veil'd with a piece of red
g^aufe, and ofttn, if young, efpeciaily her forehead and

cheeks,

CITY OF ALEPPO. 113

cheeks covered - with leaf-gold, cut into various forms.
When he has conduced her up flairs, they are left to
themfelves (<i^).

They have a few black flaves, which are commonly
brought from j^thiopia^ by way of Cairo ; but the
greater part of their flaves are white, being moflly fur-
niflied from Georgia^ or fuch as are taken in war ; and
the beauty of a male-flave enhances the value as much
as it does that of a female, occafioned by the frequency
among them of a crime not to be named. When I
mention their flaves, it will not be amifs to obferve,
that they are generally very well treated, and, provided
they behave as they ought, very often marry their
maflers daughters, and inherit their whole fortunes.

The Ticrh of Aleppo being very jealous, keep their
women as much at home as they can ; fo that it is but
feklom they are allowed to vifit each other. Neceffity
however obliges the hufband to fuffer them to go often
to the bagnio, and Mo7idays and Thiirfdays are a fort
of licenced days for them to viiit the tombs of their de-
ceafed relations ; which furnifliing them, with an op-
portunity of walking abroad in the gardens or fields,
they have fo contrived, that almofl e\'ery Thurfday in

(J ) The tokens of virginity are expefted by all fefts in this country, but
more indecently expcfed by the Turks than any other.

Q^ the

114 A DESCRIPTION of the

the fpring bears the name of fome particular Jheih {d)y
whofe tomb they muft vijQt on that day. By this means
the greateft part of the Turkiflj women of the city get
abroad to breathe the frefh air at fuch feafons, unlefs
confined (as is not uncommon) to their houfes by order
of the bapmso^ and fo deprived even of that Httle free-
dom which cuftom had procured them from their
hu (bands. When the women go abroad, they wear
white veils, fo managed that nothing appears but
their eyes, and a fmall part of the nofe. They are
ufually in large companies, and have always either an
old woman or a young lad for a guard.

The haram, or women's apartment, among the
people of fafhion, is guarded by a black eunuch, or
young boy. And though neceffity obliges many of the
inferior people to trufl: their wives out of doors, yet fome
are locked up till the hufbands return ; fo that the ut-
mofl: care in that way is taken among them to prevent
a breach of the marriage-vow. But where there are
no ties of love or virtue, one may eafily conceive that
others prove ineiFedual ; and how far afFedion has
place among them, may be gueffed from what has been
already mentioned in regard to choice : or at leaft
when to this is added, that it is a kind of reproach

{d) Sheih here fignifies a faint, or holy man ; but the name is alfo applied to
the head perfon in a village,

among

CITY OF ALEPPO. 115

among them to be thought fond of their women, or to
£hew them much tendernefs or refpedl ; the beft of them
being only treated as upper fervants, and often abufed
and drove about by the very eunuchs or boys bought
or hired to look after them.

When a Tiii-k dies, the women immediately fall a
fhrieking, (a practice followed by all the natives) and
continue fo to do till the body is buried ; which how-
ever is difpatched as foon as pofTible, for they never
keep it longer than is abfolutely neceffary for acquaint-
ing the relations who live in town. The firft thing
done is to wafh the corpfe upon a large table, which
every hara [e] has for this purpofe : they next ftop all
the natural paffages with cotton, to prevent any moi-
fture from oozing out, as this would render the body
unclean ; then wrapping it up in a clean cotton-cloth,
they lay it in a kind of cofBn, much in the form of
ours, only that the lid rifes with a ledge in the middle,
and at the head there is a wooden battoon, about a foot
long, that ftands up, on which the proper head-drefs of
the deceafed is placed, if a man ; but if a woman, it is not
her head-drefs, but an old-fafliioned one, flat on top like
a trencher, and over it is thrown a handkerchief The
middle part of the pall is compofed of a fmall piece of

{e) Hara is the general name given to the different divifions of the city, whicli
anfwers to our word parijh.

Q^ 2 the

ii6 A DESCRIPTION of the

the old covering of the holy houfe at Mecca, the reft
of it being of no particular colour or fluff. Over the
pall are laid fome of the deceafed's beft cloaths.

When the corpfe is carried out, a number of Jheihs,
with their tattered banners, walk firft, next come the
male-friends, and after them the corpfe, carried with the
head foremofl:, upon mens fhoulders. The bearers are
relieved very often, for every paffenger thinks it meri-
torious to lend fome little help on fuch folemn occa-
fions. The neareft male-relations immediately follow,
and the women clofe the proceffion with dreadful
fhrieks, while the men all the way are finging prayers
out of the Koran. Thus they proceed to a mofque ;
where the bier is fet down in the court-yard, and a fer-
vice faid by the imaum : after which it is carried on in
the fame order as before to the burying-place ; of which
there is but one that is public within the city, the
others being all abroad in the fields.

The graves lie eaft and weft, and are lined with
ftone. The corpfe is taken out of the bier, and put in
a pofture between fitting and lying on the right-fide,
with the head to the weftward, fo that the face may be
to the fouth, that is, towards Mecca ; a fmall portion
of earth being put behind the body to keep it fteady,
the grave is covered with long ftones, which go acrofs,

5 31^^

CITY OF ALEPPO. 117

and prevent the earth they put over from falling in
upon the corpfe. The hnaimt throws on the firfl: hand-
ful of earth, faying at the fame time a prayer for the
foul of the deceafed {/)■, and exhorting fuch as hear
him to be mindful of their end. After him every one
prefent throws alfo a handful of earth, faying, God be
merciful unto the deceafed perfon. This done, the
grave is filled up. At each end of their graves is fet
up a ftone, upon which are commonly wrote Ibme
prayers, and the name of the perfon there interred.
Some have the upper part of the head-ftone cut into
the form of turbant for a man, or an old-fafhioned fort
of head-drefs if a woman ; and as they never open the
old graves in lefs than feven years, or feldom fo foon,
their cemetaries occupy a very confiderable fpace round
the city.

The neareft relations go to pray at the grave on
the third, feventh, and fortieth days, as alfo that day

( /") This fervice in Englifli may be rendered thus. " O man, from the earth
" thou wert at firfi: created, and to the earth thou dofi: now return. This grave
" being the firft ftep in thy progrefs to the manfions of the other world, if in thy
" actions thou haft been benevolent, thou art abfolved by God ; but if, on the
" contrary, thou hall not been fo, the mercy of God is greater than all things.
" But remember what thou didft believe in this world. That God is thy Lord,
" Mohammed thy Prophet, and in all the Prophets and Apoflles, and pardon is

" extenfive."

«

The Curds have a different fervice ; which though it does not fo much regard
the people of Aleppo, yet for its fingularity I fliall mention.

" If thou haft taken, thou {halt give : If thou haft done, thou Ihalt find : If
" thou believeft not, thou Ihalt fee prefently."

twelve-

ii8 A DESCRIPTION of the

twelve-month, after the perfon's deceafe ; and on every
one of thofe days a quantity of vidluals is dreffed, and
given to the poor. The women go to the tomb every
Monday or Thurfday^ and carry fome flowers or green
leaves to drefs it with. They make a great fhew of
grief, often expoftiilating heavily with the dead perfon,
" Why he fhould leave them, when they had done
" every thing in their power to make life agreeable to
" him ?" This, however, by the men is looked upon
as a kind of impiety ; and, if over-heard, they are chid
feverely for it : and I muft fay the men generally fet
them a good example in this refped:, by a patient ac-
quiefcence in the lofs of their neareft relations, and in-
deed Iliew a firm and fteady fortitude under every other
kind of misfortune.

The men wear no mourning; but the women put
on their graveft-coloured cloaths, and the head-drefs is
of a dark brick-duf!: colour. They alfo lay afide their
jewels, and other pieces of female finery, for the fpace
of twelve months, if they mourn for their hufband,
and fix months if for their father. Thefe pe-
riods, however, they do not obferve very ftridtly.
But before the widow marries again, £he muft mourn
forty days for her deceafed hufband, without going out
of the houfe, or fpeaking to any perfon more than
what is abfolutely neceflary ; and this prohibition ex-
tends

CITY OF ALEPPO. 119

tends even to her neareft relations. This term of
forty days does not commence from the demife or bu-
rial ; but, on the contrary, is rarely obferved till feveral
months after.

It would not only be foreign to my prefent purpofe,
but alfo fuperRuous, to mention any thing particular, ei-
ther in refpeft to their religion or government, efpe-
cially as the reader may have recourfe to fuch pieces as
exprefsly treat of thefe fubjeds. I fhall only fay in re-
gard to the firft, that they are very exadl obfervers of
their times of prayer, and other exterior forms ; but
pradlife very little the other duties enjoined by it, if you
except giving alms to the poor, (of whom there are
great numbers in Aleppo) and hofpitality to ftrangers ;
which laft they pradife in a very eminent degree. I
remember once, in converfation with the muftee, who
is a jocofe old man, he told me that he had a favour
to beg of me, which was, that, when I returned to
Engla7id, I would not mifreprefent the Moham??2edan
faith, by giving an account of it from what I had (qqh
in the practice of the Mojlems. But, fays he, if you
will take juft the reverfe of what you fee daily pradtifed
by us, you will be pretty near the truth. I fhall not
however take the liberty to fay that they are quite fb
bad as he reprefented them..

Their

120 A DESCRIPTION of the

Their military governors, as vizir-bajhaws, &c. are
not now compofed of flaves, or fons of Chriftians, as
they were formerly ; but are either favourites of the
Grajtcl Sigfior^ or fuch as will purchafe their places at
the higheft rate, for the beft bidder generally carries it ;
and as they pay large fums to the Po;Y, and the legal
income of their government is not fufficient for a quar-
ter of their expences, they are fufFered to fleece the
people : and though they make fome falfe pretence for
it, and often have the caufe formally tried before the
hady ; yet the veil is fo thin, that it evidently appears,
thaty^c volo Jic jubeo is the only plea for feizing a man's
whole fortune, and fometimes depriving him of life
alfo. However, they are far from being fo cruel as
they were formerly.

As to their civil magiftrates, or hadys^ money goes a
great way with them in their determination of law-
fuits, and witnefTes may be always had for a trifle to
prove any thing that is deflred. However, there is one
good thing, that ought not to be forgot, which is, their
quick decifion of the caufes that come before them.
It ought likewife to be mentioned in their praife, that
they will commonly accept of lefs money to determine
a fuit in favour of the perfon who has right on his flde,
than of him v/ho is in the wrong. The expence of a fuit,

which

CITY OF ALEPPO. 121

which is I o per cent, upon the fum demanded, is paid
to the judge by the perlbn who carries his caufe ; which
is one great encouragement to bad men to make falfe
demands on fuch as they are at enmity with, as it cofls
them nothing, and the innocent man muft pay, and
that too in proportion to the weight of the injury in-
tended him. Some kadys^ however, when the thing
is very apparent, accept of a fmaller fum than they
are intitled to ; but the falfe accufer is never pu-
nifhed.

The common punifliment for flight oiFences is beat-
ing the foles of the feet with fmall fticks ; and fome-
times, when they would punifli more feverely, they
beat alfo the back and buttocks ; which laft is the
way in which they chaftife the Ja?iizaries and wo-
men.

For capital crimes, if the offender is a yanizary., he
is ftrangled ; not in the way generally imagined, but
by putting a cord twice round their neck, and with a
piece of flick twifling it in the nature of a tournequet.
Other criminals are hanged, beheaded, or impaled, ac-
cording to the caprice of the baJJjau\ After all their
executions, the body remains expofed for at leafl three
funs.

R It

1^ A DESCRIPTION of the

It is a miftaken notion, that fuch as have been at
Mecca may commit crimes with impunity, fince, ac-
cording to their law, they cannot be put to death.
Their being hadgys doth not intitle them to any privi-
lege of that nature ; and, even on the road to and
from Mecca, fuch of the pilgrims as commit crimes are
punifhed as in other places ; there being not only a ba~
paw, but a kady, in the caravan on purpofe to try
them ; and numbers are executed every year on their
journey, as well returning as on the road thither.

The EmeerSy or relations of Mobammedj diftinguiihed
by a green falh round their heads, inftead of the white
wore by the other AloJJems, have indeed a privilege of
being tried and punilhed by the Nakeeb, an Effendy
appointed on purpofe to prelide over them. However,
the bapaws, when they pleafe, break through this cuf-
tom. They have a much greater benefit, by their be-
ing exempted from paying any part of the expences of
the city ; which, fince the great decreafe of trade from
the difiurbances in Perfia, and the ruin of many of the
villages by their own bad government, falls very heavy
upon the people ; for they are daily lefs able to pay,
and the demands of the governors rather encreale.
The Chriftians, by the contentions between fuch as
have become Roman Catholics, and others that remain

of

CITY OF ALEPPO. 123

of the old churches, furnifh the governors with nume-
rous pretences of extorting large fums of money from
them ; fo that it is not extraordinary that their ruin
fliould be the fartheft advanced.

The Chriftians, except in their Lent or faft-days,
eat much in the fame manner as the Turks ; only we
muft obferve, that they do not introduce either the
fhorba or pilaw fo frequently at their tables. They eat
more burgle (^), and lefs rice, and frequently uie oil
where the Turks ufe butter. The TurkiJJj huftrnf is
fupplied by wine or fpirits ; of which many of them
drink pretty liberally.

On their faft-days, the number of which is very con-
fiderable ih)^ their chief fubfiftence is a i^v^ pot-herbs,

roots.

(^) Burgle is wheat boiled, then bruifed by a itiill, fo as to take the huflc ofF,
then dried, and kept for ufe. The ufual way of dreffing it is either by boil-
ing it like rice into a pilaw, or made into balls with meat and fpices ; and, ei-
tlier fried or boiled, thefe balls are called cubby.

{h) The Greeks, Syrians, and Maronltes', are kept upon the fame occafions,
but differ as to the number of days. They are as follows :

Gieelcs. Syrian^. Maroritcs.

Si!(m il Kebeer, or Great Lent before Eafter 48 days. 48 days. 48 days.
Soom il Rajde, or Faft of the Apoftles - x% 12 4

Sooum il Seida, or Faft of the Holy Virgin 15 15 ir

Soom il Milaad, or Lent before Chriltmas 40 25 20

115 loo S7

K z The

1 24 A DESCRIPTION op the

roots, and pulfe, dreffed with oil, which is feldom
good. Fiih is not always to be had, nor allowed by
the greateft part of them in their great Lent before
Eajier. Pickled green olives, or black (ripe) ones
faked, make a confiderable part of their food at fuch
times.

In keeping their fafts, they are generally very exa6l,
or rather rigorous. However, if a phyflcian declares
their life to be in danger, the Greeks^ Syrians^ and Ma-
ro7iitesy will often break their faft ; but the Armenians
are for the mofh part fo very ftrid;, that not even the
prefervation: of life is fufficient to prevail with them to
interrupt it fo much as for a day. Moft of them [Arme-
nians) in the great Lent do not fo much as eat oil^

The Armenian Lents differ confiderably from the others, and are

Zoom il Ratas - - ^ days.

S-jcm il RaJhe'Jhle - - _ 7

Soom Mar Ellas - - _ «

Soom il Kehecr, or Great Lent before Eafter 4,8

Soom Kirkoor Saureech ' - - 7

Soom il Seida - - - 7-

Soam il Kaffa il Saleeb, or Elevation of the Crofs 7

Soom il jjjeeb il So Lib ^ - . 7-

Socni Sarici'S - - _, _ 7.

Soom Mar Jacob - " " 7

III

Soom M ;re Hannah il Ch'mkaly, which is a volun-
tary faft, and all not obliged to keep it 48-

Befides thefe Lents, all the native Chriftians keep faft Wednefdays and Fri?
days (one or two excepted), through the whole year..

The

CITY OF ALEPPO. 125

The Chriftian women are as clofely veiled, though in
a different manner, as tSx^Tur-UJh women are, when they
go abroad, which the better fort feldom do but to
church, the bagnio, their phyiieians, or now and then
to vifit a relation. Some few of them permit their
wives, perhaps twice or thrice a-year, to go to the gar-
dens ; and others, though the gardens are not a mile
from their houfe, never faw one in' their lives.

Moft of them are contracted while children by their
parents. There being nothing very material in the ce-
remonies of the different fed:s, I fhall give the defcrip-
tion of a Maronite wedding, which will ferve as a fpe-
cimeu of all the reft..

After the bride has been demanded, the relations of
the bridegroom are invited to an entertainment at the
houfe of the bride's father, in order to confult with her
relations (for the young folks themfelves have no vote in
fuch affairs, nor are ever feen) concerning the proper
day for celebrating the wedding ; and it is almoft al-
ways agreed on for that day fortnight. On the ap-
pointed day, in the afternoon, they again go to the
bride's houfe ; and, having fupped there, return to
that of the bridegroom, who hitherto has not appeared,
though fome little enquiry has been made after hirn ;;

for

126 A DESCRIPTION of the

for he is by cuftom obliged to hide himfelf, or at leaft
is not to be found without a feemingly ftrid fearch.
When he is brought out, drefled in his worft cloaths,
great noife and rejoicings are then made on the finding
him; and he and the bride's man, after being led feve-
ral times round the court yard in a noify proceilion,
are carried into a room, where their wedding-cloaths
are laid out in form. A prieft fays a long prayer over
them ; and, being dreffed, they are led back into the
court-yard with the fame ceremony as before.

At midnight, or a few hours later, the relations, ac-
companied by all that have been invited to the wed-
ding, men and women, return once more to the
houfe where the bride is, in procefTion, each carrying
a candle, and mufic playing before them. When they
come to the door, it is fhut upon them ; and when
they knock, and demand the bride, they are refufed
admittance. Upon this enfues a mock-fight, but the
bridegroom's party always prevails. The women then
go to the bride's chamber, lead her out veiled quite
over, and in the like procefiion carry her to the bride-
groom's ; but not more than one or two of her fifiers, or
neareft female-relations, mud accompany her. She is
there fet down at the upper end of the room among the
women, continues veiled with a red gaufe ; and murt
fit like a ftatuc, neither moving nor fpeaking on any

account

CITY OF ALEPPO. 127

account, except rifing to every perfon that comes into
the room, which is notified to her by one of the wo-
men who fits by her conftantly, for {he muft not open
her eyes. The reft of the night is fpent by each fex
in their feparate apartments in noify mirth, eating fruits
and fweet-meats, there being no want of wine and ar-
rack. Some few retire to reft.

The next day, about nine, in the morning, the bi-
fhop or prieft comes to perform the ceremony. Before
he enters the womens apartment, all the women are
veiled. The bride ftands covered entirely, and fup-
ported by two women, the bride's maid ftanding by to
keep the veil well adjufted. The bridegroom is drefled
in a gaudy robe, and, going in with the bifhop, is
placed on the bride's left-hand, with his bride's man
by him. After a fhort fervice, the bifhop puts a
crown, firft on the bridegroom's head ; after which
the bride, bride's man and m^aid, are crowned in the
fame manner. He next joins the hands of the bride
and bridegroom; and, after fome. longer fervice, puts a
ring on the bridegroom's finger, and delivers another
to the bride's maid to be put upon that of the bride.
Near the conclufion of the fervice, he ties round the
bridegroom's neck a piece of tape or ribbon ; to take
off which a prieft comes in the afternoon. The cere-
mony being finifhed, the bridegroom, and all the men,,
6 retire;

128 ADESCRIPTION of the

retire again to their proper apartment, where they drink
coffee, and lit very gravely w^hile the bifhop remains,
which is not long ; for dinner being ferved up imme-
diately for him, and a few feledl people of the com-
pany, he foon dines, and takes his leave ; and he is
fcarcely gone a few yards from the houfe, before their
noify mirth begins. Great quantities of victuals are
dreffed, and feveral tables covered, both for dinner
and flipper ; and there is ufually a profufion of to-
bacco, coffee, wine, and arrack.

About eleven or twelve at night, the bridegroom is
led in proceilion to the bride's chamber, where he pre-
fents her with a glafs of wine, in which fhe drinks to him,
and he returns the compliment : after this he is carried
back again with the fame ceremony.

The mufic, during the whole of the time, conti-
nues to play, buffoons and other of their diverlions are
going forward, and the houfe is ufually full of com-
pany till next day in the afternoon, when they take
their leave, all but a few intimate friends, who fup
with the bridegroom, and about midnight leave him
heartily fatigued to retire to the bride's chamber.

All thofe that have been invited to the wedding fend
prefents ; and, for feveral days after the marriage is

confummatcd,

CITY OF ALEPPO. 129

confummated, quantities of flowers are fent to the bride
by all the women of their acquaintance.

On that day feven-night the wedding was celebrated,
the bride's relations are allowed to come and vifit her,
aiid an entertainment is provided for them.

It is not reputed decent, in this country, for a bride
to fpeak to any perfon for at leaft a month {thQ.Arme-
nians extend this to a year), excepting a few words to
her hufband ; and there is generally a very ftridl charge
given them by the old women about this, and particu-
larly not to talk to him too foon,

Few women are allowed to flt at table with their
hufbands, but wait upon them as fervants ; and in ge-
neral they are not much better treated than I have de-
Icribed thofe of the Turh to be. Though they have
no guards upon their apartments, yet the people of
fafhion are never fuffered to appear unveiled before
men, except they are their fervants, near relations,
priefts, or phyficians. The Ma^'onites are the leaft
ftrid: in this refped: ; and fome ot them will appear be-
fore particular ftrangers, and are even admitted to lit at
table with their hufbands. Their confinement, how-
ever, does not proceed from jealoufy in refpe6l to their

S condudl,

13b A DESCRIPTION of the

condudl, fo much as from the fear of bad confe^uen-
ces, fhould a Turk fee and take a liking to any of them.

The Chriftians are carried to the grave on an open
bier ; and befides many appointed days, when the re-
lations go to the fepulchre, and have mafs faid, and
fend victuals to the church and poor, many of the
women go every day for the firft year, and every
great holiday afterwards.

The Jews have their fynagogue within the city, in
Bahfyta^ near Gardeji-Gate^ and they live all in that
quarter. Many of their houfes are upon the city-
wall ; and the ditch being there turned into gardens,,
makes their fituation agreeable, but not fo healthy.
The houfes of other Jews have their court-yards
moftly feveral feet below the level of the ftreet ; which,
with the natural naftinefs of the people, contributes to-
wards rendering their dwellings very offenlive.

As mod of their time during their feflivals is em-
ployed in the exercife of their religion, on the greateft
part of them, they cannot drefs viduals ; and as it is
not lawful for them to eat or drink but of fuch things
as have been managed in a different way from what
they find among the Chriftians or Turks^ they have no
great opportunities of committing exceffes ; fo that
8 they

CITY OF ALEPPO. 131

they may with juflice be pronounced the moft abfte-
mious people in Aleppo.

It having been agreed, for the benefit of the poor
of this religion, that meat fliall be fold amongft
them at an under-price, and the deficiency made good
out of the public ftock, the managers take care that
their markets fhall be very ill fupplied, fo that fome-
times they are for feveral days without a bit of mut-
ton. This is the reafon why they eat more poultry, and
the poorer fort chiefly herbs, roots, and pulfe, drefled
with oil exprefied from the fefamum, than moft other
people.

Six days (/) in the year they faft from about t^\'o
hours before funfet, till the next evening after the fun
is down. All of them attempt once in their lives to
faft from Saturday night at funfet, till the Friday fol-
lowing at the fame hour. Some hold out two, fome
three, others four days, and a few complete it ; but
there are feveral who perifli in the attempt.

(A) I Day faft tW 3d of the month Tifnereen il AvaaL
I ditto the icth of ditto.
I ditto the 1 0th of the month of Talbaat.
I ditto the 14th of tlie month Adar.
I ditto the 17 th of the month Tammoofe.
1 ditto the 9th of the month Jbb.

S 2 Excepting

J32 A DESCRIPTION of the

Except the particular ceremonies which their reUgioa
obhges them to obferve, it would be only repeating a
great deal of what has been already faid to give an ac-
count of their weddings. Amongft the latter, the moft
remarkable is, that the bride's eye-lids are faftened to-
gether with gum ; and, if I remember right, the bride-
groom is the perfon that opens them at an appointed
time. »

Their dead are carried to the grave on a covered
bier. They have certain days, wherein they go to the
fepulchres ; and the women, like thofe of other fedis,
often go there to howl and cry over their dead relations.

The Europeans, or Fraiiks {k) (as they are generally
called), refiding m. Aleppo, are c\nt^y EngliJJj send French y
of the former at prefent (/), befides the conful, chap-
lain, cancellier, or chancellor, phyiician, and cheaux
(m), there are ten merchants. The French have a con-
ful, and other officers, as mentioned, and their drug-
gomen {nn) are likewife of their own nation. The num-

(k) From the Italian word franco, free or exempt, in allufion to the privileges
the Europeans enjoy,

(0 '753-

(w) An officer of ceremony (in the nature of one among the Turks of the fame
name), who walks before the conful with a ftaff tipp'd with filver. He is alfo
employed as a meflenger, and takes care of all letters.

{nn) Or interpreters. /

ber

CITY OF ALEPPO. r33

ber of thofe In quality of merchants and clerks is nigh
double that of the EngliJJ:). Befides which they have
many of a lower clafs, who are married to natives of
the country, or others of a mixed race : the number
of whom in the Leva?tt was become fo confiderable,
and likely to be fo troublefome, that the French King,
not many years ago, iflued an edi6l, ordering all fucb
as were married to return home, and prohibiting any
others from marrying without his licence, which has
greatly dlminlfTied their number. Under the French
protedlon are llkewlfe the Roman Catholic convents, of
which there are in the city no lefs than three [n)^ and
a college of Jefuits. The Dutch have a conful reliding
here, but no other perfon of that country. There are
alfo a few Venetian merchants, and fome Italian "Jews^

The major part of the Europeans live In khanes In
the principal quarter of the city. The ground-floor
ferves for their warehouf^s, the upper ftory is fitted up
for their dwellings^ by building between the pillars of
the colonade, which forms a long corridore ; opening on
vvhich are a number of rooms, fo that they much re-
femble cloifters \ and as they are unmarried, and their

(«) One of the Terra Santa, pretty large, -whofe church the French, and many
of the natives of the Romilh faith (when not prohibited by the baftiaw) frequent..

One of Capuchim. 1 £,^.5, has only two or three friars.

One ot Larmtiitcs. J '

The Jf/uits Celuge fejdom has more than two or threp.

communicatioa

134 ^ DESCRIPTION of the

communication with the people of the country is almoft
folely on account of ti-ade, their way of Hfe alfo not
a little refembles the monaftic. It was formerly
cuftomary for all, or moft of them, to wear the Turkijh
habit, retaining only the hat and wig by way of dif-
tindion ; but of late years the far greater part have
continued in their proper drefs.

The Italian Jcws^ who are moftly married, and fuch
of the French above mentioned as have families, muft
be excepted, as they 'have houfes after the manner of
the natives, and conform more to their cuftoms than
the other Europeans.

As to provihons, it has been already mentioned

what the place affords, and thofe are drefled after the

European manner. The evening being the chief time

of entertaining their friends, they eat more animal food

for fupperthanis cuftomary in Britain. In refpedt to drink

they are exceeding moderate : their common draught

at table is a dry white wine, and Provence red wine.

In fummer, xh.&EngliJh generally before dinner and fup-

per drink a draught of weak punch ; which is found

fo very refrefhing, that now the greater part of the

other Europea7is, feveral of the Chriftians (and I might

add Tome Turh]., follow their example.

All

C I T Y OF A L EP P O. 135^

All the Englifi, and fome of the others, keep
horfes, and ride out for an hour or two of an after-
noon three or four times a-week. On Saturdays, and
often on Wed7tefday likewife, they dine abroad under a
tent in the fpring and autumn, and during the good
weather in the winter ; the month of April, and part
of May, they generally live at the gardens near Baballah\,
and m. the heat of fummer, in the room of the tent,
they dine at the gardens. Such as love hunting or hawk-
ing, ufually go abroad twice a-week, after the fecond!
rains, till the weather grows too warm in the fpring ;
and there is game for fuch as love fhooting at the fame,
feafons, as alfo plenty of quails Ipring and autumru.

From the above account it would appear that the
EngliJJ:) in particular ufe a good deal of exercife : but
it ought to be confidered, that, if we except a little walk
in an evening on the houfe-top, what has been menti-
oned is the whole they take ; the greatefb part of their
time befides being fpent in the compting-houfe, or in
reading ; fo that they are rather fedentary than a6live.

Though, from what has been faid of the people of
this country in general, their character may not appear:
the moft amiable ; yet the Riiropeajis have no reafon to
complain ot their behaviour. Their capitulations with.

the

.136 A DESCRIPTION of the

the Port prevents their being any way fubjeft to the
opprefTions of the government ; and the baJJjaws, and
the people of diftindion, ufually treating the confuls
with civility and refpeft, others of courfe follow their ex-
ample ; fo that we live among them in great fecurity
in the city, and can travel abroad unmolefted by Arabs
or Cirrds, where the natives dare not venture, though
defended by a much greater force. This is owing partly
to a fmall annual prelent fent to die Prince of the
Arabs ^ and the civil treatment that the Curds fometimes
meet with 2X S-canderoon^ and partly to our travelling with
no more money than what is abfolutely neceflary for our
expences ; fo that they would get but little by us.
And befides, an infult of this nature would be made
a pretence by the TurkiJJj government for chaftifing
them feverely : whereas, if they rob a native, they ge-
nerally, in money and horfe-furniture, find a good
booty ; and, unlefs he happens to be a perfon in power,
he dare not complain, as he would run the rifk of be-
ing fleeced of as much more by the very perfon who
fhould procure him redrefs.

The epidemic difeafes which prevail mofl: in Akppo^
are continual fevers, various fpecies of intemiittents
and remittents, dyfenteries, catarrhal fevers, quinfies,
rheumatifms, pleurifies, and peripneu monies ; to which
may be added the plague. During the extreme heats

an

CITY OF ALEPPO. 137

an anomalous fever, Ibmetimes with, at others without
a diarrhoea or dyfentcry, is exceeding frequent among
very young children ; and in Augiiji and September the
ophthalmia, which is not very rare, e\'en in other months,
is fo common that in moft years at leaii one Hxth of the
inhabitants are more or lefs aiHicled with it [o).

Though the continual fevers of the fpring are often
attended with worfe fymptoms, in appearance, than thofe
of the autumn, yet in general they are not i*o dangerous.
The former difcover themfelves fometimes about the
beginning of yaiiuaiy^ though more frequently about
the vernal equinox, and difappear in 'ji{72e : the latter
fometimes begin in June^ but more commonly in "July ;
by the autumnal equinox they come to their height,
and generally go off by the beginning of Dece?}ibe7\
The intermittents and dyfenteries commence and finillx
exadlly at the fame feafons as the autumnal continual
fever, and the fpring intermittents follow the courfe of
the continual fever of that feafon. •

General inflammatory fevers, catarrhal fevers, rlieu-
matifms, quiniies, pleurilies, and peripneumonies,

. {t) This is attributed to the dews, which fall in fniall quantities during the
nights at that feafon, and which the natives who flcep abroad have nothing to
flielter them from ; and as the Europeans, who ufually Oeep on bedfleads, are
exempted from this complaint, and, by lying abroad without this conveniency, ■
have been feized with the ophthahnia, this conjeifture feems to have fome foun-
dation in experience.

T ' make

138 A DESCRIPTION of the

make their appearance in the months of December., ya-
nuaryy February^ March, and fometimes April \ but
they are feldom eitlier frequent or remarkably violent.

If we fet afide the ophthalmia, there are none of
the above difeafes more acute than they are commonly
in B?^itam ; nor can I lay more frequent, except the
plague, of which hereafter, and certain malignant, re-
mittent, and intermittent fevers, that fometimes break-
out with great vehemence ; but this is only in particu-
lar years,, or in fuch towns and villages as are lituated
near ftagnant waters, whether naturally marfhes, or that,
for the benefit of the filk-gardens, they lay them under
water by art : and the bad efFeds of fuch lituations is
evident even in Aleppo, where thofe who inhabit the
houfes on the ^o& of the town, now turned into gar-
dens, are always moft fubjedt to intermittents.

The Europeans are but very feldom affe^bed by
any epidemics. This perhaps may in part be owing ta
their not converfing much with the natives, and fo
keeping out of the way of the contagion, of which
moft of thofe difeafes partake in a greater or lefs degree ;
partly to their living above flairs, and not in the
cool and damp air, which the fountains in their litde
courts and gardens occaiion ; and partly likewife, be-
caufe the Europeans do not indulge themfelves fo freely

2. as

CITY OF ALEPPO. 138

as the natives in the ufe of crude and indigeftible fruits.
That thefe circumftances ftrongly co-operate towards
their prefervation, may alfo be inferred from hence, that
the Ru7'opea7t priefts, who mix much with the natives,
and thofe Europeans who are rcarried, and have houfes
in the country-manner, are as fubje6t to the attacks ot
every reigning epidemic as the natives themfelves. It
mufl be hkewife obferved, that when a difeafe feizes any
one of the different forts of people who relide here, its
fymptoms and progrefs are exadly the fame in all, whe-
ther Ruropean^ Tnrk^ Jew, or native Chriflian : but it
muft be at the fame time remarked, that, in treating
the fick, regard muft be had to their very different me-
thod of living ; for thofe who are accuftoned to drink
nothing ftronger than water or coffee, will not bear fo
warm a regimen, as thofe, who are accuftomed to fer-
.mented and fpirituous liquors.

The generality of fevers here, though of the conti-
nual kind, and indeed almofl all acute difeafes in this
place, are fubjed to exacerbations once or twice in twenty-
four hours, which are ufually accompanied by a flufh-
ing in one or both cheeks, and the critical days and
evacuations agree much better with the account given
of them by the ancients than they are obferved to do
in Britain : but I could never difcover the truth of

T 2 Dr.

140 A DESCRIPTION of the

Dr. Brown s remark (/>), That "as to fevers at and
about Aleppo., though they have the fame type there
as in England^ yet there are two things pecuHar to
'* them ; one is, that in acute fevers cold fweat com-
" monly lignifies recovery, but hot fweat portends
" death ; the other is, that in fuch acute fevers even
" an intermmittent pulfe denounces no danger." Per-
haps this might have been pecuHar to fome epidemic
that prevailed at the time the Dodlor was at Aleppo ;
but, during all the time I refided there, I am certain
that both the one and the other have been as dangerous
fymptoms in Aleppo as any where elfe. And probably he
may have been led into a miftake by the common expref-
fion of the natives, who give the appellation of a cold
fweat to fuch a critical one, as having carried oft the
fever, leaves the body cool, and of courfe the fweat
that remains upon it feels cool : whereas, what they
call a hot fweat, is fuch as often happens in fevers with-
out any abatement of the fymptoms, fo that both the
body and fweat remain hot ; and fuch fort of fweats
are bad fymptoms, as often in other places as in
Aleppo.

The Europeans^ particularly the Englijlj, are fub-
jeft, foon after their arrival, to a very violent fever i

ip) Lowthorp's Abridgment of the Phil. Tranfaflions, vol. ill. p. 605.

which

CITY OF ALEPPO. 141

which hov/ever feldom lafts above twenty-four hours.
This, from what caufe I know not, has got the
name of the goofe. It is neceffary to bleed largely in.
this iizw^x^ and the moft prudent way is to purge the
patient once or twice at proper intervals after the dif-
eafe is removed. When they have remained any time
at Scanderoon^ they are often feized with tertian agues
fbon after they arrive at Akppo^ which is alio common
to the natives that live upon the coaft, though they,
have been well while they continued there, and the dif-
eafe not at all epidemic in the city. If it is in the winter
or fpring, thefe fevers are commonly regularly, formed,
and eafily cured ; but in the autumn they are of a very,
bad kind, and, if the bark is not foon given, are not a>
Httle dangerous. The ingenious Mr. Cleghor?i^ ac-
count of the tertians of Minorca anfwers exadtly to thofe
of Cyprus^ Scanderooftj the coaft of Syria., and what
fome years happen at Aleppo \ and a long courfe of ex-
perience has convinced me that his method of cure is,
the fafeft, as well as the moft fuccefsful..

The Chriftians, from the great quantity of oil they
cat in their Lent, and that too moftly burnt, as frying
is their favourite manner ot dreffing that kind of vic--
tuals, are at fuch feafons fubjecl to a feverifli diforder,.
attended with a cough. The (kin over the whole body
feels liot, parched, and dry ; but it is moft violent in

the:

142 A DESCRIPTION of the

the palms of the hands and foles of the feet. They
wheez much in breathing, and labour by coughing to
expedorate, but without effedl. Bleeding, a gentle
laxative, with the plentiful ufe of perioral and fapona-
ceous diluters, foon remove their complaints.

The 77tal d' Aleppo., of which a more particular ac-
count fhall be given hereafter, is a difeafe that may
properly be called here endemial. Of fporaides, the
following are the moft frequent, viz. Almoft all the dif-
eafes that the eyes are fubje6t to, which are many of
them the confequcnces of the ophthalmia. Obftruc-
tions of the abdominal vifcera, often the confequcnces
of acute difeafes, and to v/hich alfo they are much fub-
je6led by the nature of their aliment, want of exercifc,
method of fitting, and alfo in the men their larp-e and
tight-bound girdles. Ruptures and haemorrhoids, which
they are much afflicted with, feem to owe their orip^in
to fome of the fame caufes. The tinea feems occafioned
from naflinefs, as they feldom fo much as uncover ei-
ther their children or grown people's heads but in the
bagnio ; and worms, one kind or other of which fcarce
one perfon, either young or old, are free from, fccm
alfo to take their rife from the nature of their aliment.
The leprofy is now exceeding rare in thefe countries,
but fcorbutic eruptions and putrid gums very common,
Notwithftanding their jealou fy and ftrid watch over

their

CITY OF ALEPPO. 143

their women, the venereal difeafe is very frequent
amongft them. As they have no idea of a gonorrhcEa
different from what is mentioned in their own authors,
they neither conceive it to be infediious, nor to be in
danger of ending in a worfe difeafe. The confequence
of the firft is, the I'preading of the infedion ; and of the
laflj that it often terminates in a pox. When this appears,
it is called Frank zahtnedy^ or the Fra7ik difeafe, pro-
bably from their having it firft from Europe ; and they
are then much alarmed : and though they imagine
this to be infectious, yet are more apt to attribute it to
their having fmoked out of the fame pipe, or ate out
of the fame fpoon, ^c. with a perfon infe<Sled, than to
any other caufe. As the natives know very little of
the ufe of mercury, numbers of them labour under
the difeafe great part of their lives, and fome without
any very confiderable uneaiinefs ; the warmth of the
climate, and frequent ufe of the bagnio, may perhaps
conduce towards preventing its making a very quick,
progrefs.

Such perfons as have any tendency to a phthifis pul-
monalis fhould avoid the air of Aleppo^ for it is feldom-
that any afflidled with that difeafe outlives a few monthsj^,
if they do not leave the, place..

Beiidesc

144 A DESCRIPTION, &'c,

Beiides thefe difeafes already mentioned, all others
known in Britain are to be met with at Aleppo^ and
nearly in the fame proportion, except the gout, which
is rare amongft them, and moftly hereditary.

PART

PART II.

OBSERVATIONS on the Epidemical
Difeafes in the City of Aleppo,

C H A P. I.

Objervations on the Weather in General.

THE weather at Aleppo differing but very little
in any one year from another, I thought it
would fave a great deal of unneceffary trouble, if I gave
a general account of the weather ufual in every month,
drawn from a meteorological regifter, regularly kept,
with only few intermiffions, for about ten years, and
afterwards noted what was particular.

The barometer ufed in the following obfervations
was Englijh^ and graduated according to the meafure
of that country. The firft column denotes inches, the
fecond loths of an inch.

The thermometers, (for, from accidents of break-
ing, feveral were ufed) except for the laft two years,
were fmall portable ones, graduated according to Fa-

U renheit's

146 OBSERVATIONS ON the

renheit\ fcale ; the other was larger, upon the fame
fcale. All of them were of mercury, and (as well as
the barometer) made by the accurate Mr. Bird in

London.

The fituation of the inftruments for the years 1743,
44, 45, and thofe of 52 and 53, was in a little
wooden kiojk [a], facing the eaft, which projected over
a narrow ftreet that run fouth and north, with high
buildings on each fide. The fun had only accefs by the
fouth-window, and that fcarce an hour in the day.
To this place there was a free ingrefs of air, the two
oppofite windows, and often the whole, being con-
ftantly open from the month of April till the latter end
of OEiober ; and in the winter, though thefe windows
were (hut, a free accefs ftill remained by the door, and
a window which opened into a pafTage fronting the weft,
the outer door of which in the day-time was always
open. Add to this, that thefe wooden kibfks have not
either their wood-work, or numerous windows, fo well
clofcd as to prevent a pretty confiderable communica-
tion with the external air through the chinks.

This is the fituation which appears to be much
preferable to any other, and from which the general

{(.) See Page 4.

account

WEATHER IN General. 147

account of the weather is taken. But a multiplicity
of pracftice rendering it impoffible for me to keep the
regifter, I was obHged to a friend, who was fo kind
as to take that trouble for me ; and then the thermo-
meter was placed in a vaulted fouth-room, which was
defended from the weft by two other rooms, and op-
pofite to the window a door opened into a large vaulted
hall. In the winter (particularly the forenoon) this
was frequently open, and in the fummer-months was
fhut only by a door made of lattice-work, the win-
dow being open all that feafon. In this country the
rooms fo lltuated are remarkably warm in winter, and
cool in fummer.

In this lall polition the thermometer mufl be under-
ftood to be kept from "July 1746 till the end of 1747.
Both thefe fituations being within doors, were fome de-
grees warmer than the external air in winter, as would
appear from the thermometer never linking to the
freezing point even in time of froft ; and they are
cooler than the external air in lummer, as I have found
by feveral trials. Thefe things were neceflary to be
premifed, as they may account for the variations in
the inflrument, that are remarkable in the different
fituations.

U2 J A-

148 OBSERVATIONS on the

J A N' U A R r.

The weather in yamiary is commonly either frofty
or rainy. What fnow falls is chiefly in this month ;
but it is in no great quantity, and does not lie many
hours. The middle of the month is its moft ufual time
of falling, and then it often remains frofty till the
end.

Whenever rain falls, it is ufually in the night, and
in very heavy fhowers.

The winds are moderate, and moftly from the nor-
thern or eaftern quarter.

Therm, Barom.

Greatefl height 57 Greatefl 29 3 Greatefl variation of therm, in

Leaft 34 Leaft 28 6 one day, 4 deg.

The moft common height of the thermometer at
nine in the morning is 40 and 46, and the difference
between that and three in the afternoon a gradual rife
of 3 or 4 deg. In rainy days, or even fuch as are
cloudy, this variation feldom exceeds i or 2 deg. and
often there is none at all ; and this obfervation holds
through all the year.

FEBRUARY.

This month is for the moft part as rainy as the for-
mer j with this difference, that neither rain nor fair

weatlier

WEATHER IN General. 149

weather continue fo many days together, but change from
one to the other every four or five days. A little fnow
often falls in this month, and commonly there are a
£qw frofly days. It is very often cloudy, though no
rain falls, particularly in the afternoon ; but they are
light, M^hite clouds. At flich times the air without
doors is moderately warm. The winds are much as in
the preceding month, till towards the end, and then
it fometimes blows hard wefterly.

Theim. Btron.

Greateft height 55 Greateft 22 3 Greateft difference of therm.

Leafl 40 Leafl 28 4 in one day, 8 deg.

The firft fortnight, the ufual morning-height of the
thermometer is from 42 to 47 ; the variation between
the morning and evening obfervation, i, 2, or 3 deg.
In the laft fortnight, when there happens no froft, it
gradually rifes to about 50, and the difference between
morning and evening commonly 4 or 5 .

MARCH.

A good deal of rain falls in the month of March ;
but it is generally in fhort, hard fhowers, and often ac-
companied with thunder. At fuch times the weather
is dark and gloomy ; but for the greater part it is clear,
only a few white light clouds. The weather begins to
be hot in the open air. , ,,^^

The

150 O BS E RV AT I ON S ON THE

The winds are ftronger than in the preceding
months, and blow much oftener wefterly.

Therm.

Barom.

Greatcft height 67

Greateft

29

Difference in the thermometer

Leaft 44

Leaft

28 6

in one day, 9 dcg.

The common height of the thermometer in the
morning is in the beginning of the month as in the end
of the laft ; about the middle, 52 ; the end, 56 to
58. The difference between morning and evening
obfervations become more confiderable as the month
advances ; in the beginning, commonly 5 ; the end,
8 to 9. If it rains, the variation is very inconfider-
able, as has been mentioned before.

APRIL.

This month is in general fair, clear weather, ■ with
white, light clouds in the afternoon ; feldom dark or
cloudy, except when it rains, which it does in hard
thunder-fliowers as in the laft month, but not fb of-
ten. There are commonly a few clofe, hazey days ;
thefe happen when there are light breezes northerly
or eafterly ; but the winds in general are frefh
wefterly.

The days begin to grow very hot, but the mornings
and evenings as yet remain cool.

Greateft

WEATHER IN General. 151

Xixrai. B"om.

Greatell height 82 Greateft 29 i DifFerence in the thermometer

Leaft 51 Leaft 285 in one day, 10 deg.

The mercury in the thermometer has its morning-
ftation gradually raifed from 60 to 66 as the month
advances, and the variation 8 to 10 between the morn-
ing and evening obfervation, except when it rains.

MAT.

May has generally one or two hard fhowers of rain,
fometimes accompanied with hail, and often thunder ;
at others, the weather is ferene, with very few clouds,
and thofe light and white.

The weather begins to grow very warm in this
month, particularly when calm, or the wind northerly
or eafterly ; but the wind for much the greater part is
frefh, and wefterly. And here it will not be amifs to
obferve, that, during the whole of the fummer, the
wefterly winds have a confiderable influence over the
thermometer. When they are weak, the heat en-
creafes ; if calm, it becomes ftill hotter ; but even then
not fo hot as when a northerly or eafterly wind blows,
which raifes the mercury feveral degrees, and makes
the air very difagreeable. See p. 14.

Therm,

Baiom.

Greateft height 92

Greateft

29

Greateft variation of the therm

Leaft 67

Leaft

28 d

in one day, 10 deg.

The

152 OBSERVATIONS on the

The ufual ftation of the mercury in the thermome-
ter is at the beginning 70, and it gradually rifes, as the
month advances, to 76 or 80. The variation between
the morning and evening obfervation rifes alfo from
6 to 9.

JUNE.

This month is ferene throughout, feldom fo much
as a few flying clouds to be feen. It is very rare that
even fo much as one fliower of rain falls, and that at moft
but for a few minutes.

The wefterly winds reign chiefly in this month ;
and frefliening after mid-day, often continue through
the night, which allay the extreme heat, now become
very troublefome.

Therm.

Birotn.

Created height 96

GreateA

29

Greatefl variation of therm, in

Leaft 76

Leaft

28 5

one day, 12 deg.

The morning-height of the mercury, at fevea
o'clock, gradually encreafes with the month, from 76
to about 80 ; as that of the afternoon, at four o'clock,
does from 84 to 92.

JULY.

July differs very little from the former month ; the
weather conftantly ferene.

3 The

WEATHER IN General. 153

The wefterly winds ufually blow frefh ; but, if they
fail, it becomes exceflive hot.

Therm. Barom.

Greatefl height loi Greateft 28 9 Greateft V'ariation of therm, iu

Leafl -jj LeaA 28 5 one day, 11 deg.

Eighty, is the common height of tlie mercury, in the
morning, at the beginning of the month, as 85, 86 is
at the end. The difference between the mornins and
evening obfervation, 8 or 10.

AUGUST.

Till about the 20th, Augujl is exadly like the two pre-
ceding months^ from that to the end, there ufually ap-
pear a number "of white clouds, but larger than any that
accidentally appear in other fummer-months. Thefe
are commonly termed the Nile clouds ; and from this
time, the dews (which are fcarce ever obferved in the
two preceding months) begin to fall in the nights ; but
they are not very conliderable.

Therm,

Birom.

Greateft height gj

Greateft

29

Greatefl: variation in the therm..

Leaft 74

Leaft

28 4

in one day, i o deg.

The height of the thermometer, till the clouds ap-
pear, is pretty much the fame as in that of lafl: month ;
but, whenever they come, they commonly fink it 4 or
5 degrees.

X . SEP-

154 OBSERVATIONS on the

SEPTEMBER.

For the firft fortnight this month is Hke the former,
or rather more fultry, as the wind feldom blows ftrong.
If no rain falls, this weather continues all the month y
but ufually between the 15 th and 25 th dark, gloomy
clouds arife ; and a fqual, in the nature of a whirlwind,
blows from the weftward, bringing with it a great
cloud of dull: that covers the whole city. This progno-
fticates rain, and in one or two days more fome heavy
fhowers fall, either in the city, or not far off. Thefe
are called the firft rains ; and though they are ufually
inconfiderable, yet the air is much cooled, and the re-
mainder of the month rendered very pleafant.

Seldom a night paffes without much lightening in
the north-weft quarter, but not attended by thunder.
When this lightening appears in the weft or fouth-weft
points, it is a fure fign of the approaching rain, which
is often followed by thunder.

The winds in September are wcfterly> but often not
more than light breezes.

Therm. Barom.

Greateft height 92 Greateft 29 Greateft difference of the therm.

Leaft 62 Leaft 28 6 in one day, 12 deg.

In the beginning of this month, the ufual morning-
height of the thermometer is much as in the end of

8 Auguji ;

WEATHER IN General. 155

AuguJ} ; the variation between the morning aiid even-
ing obfervation rather more confiderable. The faUing
of rain finks it 3 or 4 degrees, and it ufually keeps fall-
ing all the month till it gets to 65 The variation in
one day feldom then, exceeds 3 or 4, and juft at the
falling of the rain much lefs, perhaps 1 or 2.

OCTOBER.

Till the fecond rains fall in OSiober, the weather is
ierene, cool, and rather more pleafant than at any
other time of the year ; afterwards it becomes more
variable. Thefe rains are ufually regulated by thofe
ill September^ being between twenty and thirty days after
them ; and, like them alfo, the quantity varies confi-
derably in different years. However, thofe of OBober
are feldom lefs than three or four days ; but ' it muft
not be underftood that it continues a conllant rain du-
ring the whole of thofe days. '

The winds are rarely flrong in this month, but are
commonly variable.

Therm.

Barom.

Greateil height 84

Created

29

Created difFerence of the therm,

Leart 5 1

Leaft

23 6

in one day, 1 0 deg.

The morning-height of the thermometer, till the
rains fall, is ufually about 72 j the difference betv/een
the morning and evening obfervation, 5 or 6. After

X 2 the

156 OBSERVATIONS on the

the falling of the rains it gradually finks to 60. The
variation then in one day is feldom more than 3 or 4,,
on the rainy days commonly lefs.

NOVEMBER.

November may be reckoned one of the rainy months,
though frequently there is an interval of very fine wea-
ther. The number of rainy days rarely exceed feven
or eight, and moft of them only a few heavy fhowers^
It is not ufual to fee fnow fall in this month ; but after
the firft fortnight it is generally frofty in the morning
when the weather is ferene.

The winds are variable, feldom fl:rong, but more
inclined to the north and eaft than any of the other
quarters.

Therm. Esrom.

Greateft height 6^ Greateft 29 i Greateflvariaiion of the therm..

Leaft 44 Leaft 28 4 in one day, 8 deg.

As the month advances, the mercury in the ther-
mometer gradually falls from 60 to 50 ; the former be-
ing its ufual morning-height at the beginning, as the
latter is at the end. The variation in one day, from 5
to 2 ; but on rainy days there is very often no variation
at all.

D E'

WEATHER IN General. 157

DECEMBER.

This is ufually a rainy month, and much more
cloudj, foggy weather in the intervals than in the pre-
ceding, confequently not near fo agreeable. The greateft
number of rainy days mentioned in the regifter is 16^
the feweft 6, commonly 8 or 9.

There is always more or lefs frofty weather in this-
month, and frequently a little fnow. This falls out
commonly after or abouc the end of the firft fortnight,
and with it commences tke cold weather.

The winds are, as in the preceding month, com-
monly eafterly or northerly, and feldom ftrong.

Therm. Barom,

Greateft height 55 Greateft 29 i Greateft difference of the therm;

Leaft 40 Leaft 28 4 in one day, 5 deg.

Forty-fix is the common height of the thermometer
through this month. The difference between the
morning and evening obfervation, when it does not
rain, is often 3.

C H A P;.

158 The Weatheh of 1742.

CHAP. II.

Of the 'WEATns.Kfrom the Tear 1742 to I'j^.'j, and of
the Years 1752 atid 1753.

A. D. MDCCXLII.

THE winter of this year was more fevere than
ufual in this country, and much lefs rain in
March and April than is cuftomary at that fcafon.

About the end of April the weather became very
warm, and continued fo till the 20th oi May ; from
which time, till the 2 2d of yuney it grew rather
cool for the feafon of the year, the air being refrefhed
by ftrong wefterly breezes.

The 2 2d of fune^ the wind changed to north-weft,
and was very moderate ; upon which the weather be-
came exceeding hot, and continued fo all that month,
and for the firft ten days in fuly. The remainder of
the fummer was fuch as is common in this country,
without any of the hot eafterly winds.

On the 25 th of September the firft rains fell, and
continued only one day ; after which the weather was
extremely pleafant till the end of OBober j when the

fecond

The Weather of 1743. 159

feeond rains fell, and continued a few days. Upon
their ceafing, it fet in fair and ferene till the 14th of
December ; when a fmall fhock of an earthquake was
felt, and a hard firoft began, which continued all that
month.

For want of proper inftruments, the changes of heat
and cold this year are here reprefented according to
what they appeared to our fenfes.

^. />. MDCCXLIII.

From the beginning of Jaituary till the middle, a
great deal of fnow fell, the froft continued, and the
air was exceeding cold ; the thermometer being but
once above 40 in the evening, and in the morning
commonly 36, once 34, on the third at 9, A. M.
A few days of fair, pleafant weather liicceeded this cold,
and then began violent rains, which continued during
the remainder of the month.

The rains were almoft conftant till the 20th of Fe-
bruary ; the latter part of which month was fair, plea-
fant weather.

March fet in with variable fpring-weather, (though
fomewhat cooler than ufual), which continued till the
23d ; from which time till the end a great quantity of
rain, hail, and thunder.

April

i6o "TU W E A T H E R of 1743-

Ap^'il was fair (except one thunder- fhower) till the
19th; during which the weather was pretty warnij
with a fort of hazinefs in the air. The 20th and 21ft,
it blew A ery hard from the fouth-weft, with much rain,
and the weather became unufually cool for the feafon.
The mercury in the thermom.eter, which had before
commonly rofe to 74 in the afternoon, feldom after-
wards getting up fo high as 66 during the whole month,
which was attended with a good deal of rain and thun-
der, fome hail, and the wind generally frefli weflerly.

May (except on the 13th and 23d, when fome fe-
vere tlmnder-lhowers fell) was fair, pleafant weather,
and much cooler than ufual. The thermometer was
unfortunately broke this month \ fo that from this time
till May following, the obfervations were made by a
large thermomoter, filled with fpirits, which fhowed dif-
tindlly the changes of heat and cold, but was not upon
any known fcale.

The beginning of yune was fair and cool weather
for the feafon. On the i oth it began to be hot ; and,
notwithitanding ftrong wefterly winds, and often flying
clouds, the air was very hot during the reft of the
month. On the i 2th, at 8 P. M. were felt two fmall
fhocks of an earthquake. The fky was at that time fe-
rene, and it blew frefh.

On

The Weather of 1743. i6f

On the night between the ift and 2d of yuly-, fbme
fevere thunder-fhowers fell ; a thing very extraordinary
at this feafon. During the whole of the month, the
wefterly wind blew frefh, and generally continued great
part of the night, by which means the air was rendered
remarkably cool.

This chill weather continued a few days in Augiijl ;
but the remainder of that month, the winds, though
wefterly, being moderate, and ceafing a little after fun-
fet, together with its fucceeding fuch cool weather,
made it feem uncommonly warm, though from the
thermometer it appeared that the heat was not in reality
greater than in other years. On the 1 9th, at half an
hour after eleven o'clock at night, was felt a fmall fhock
of an earthquake. The fky was at that time ferene,
and little wind ftirring.

The beginning of Septejnber was hot, as in Aiigtijl ;
but on the loth it -became fultry, particularly in the
night, and continued fo till the i 8 th at night, when
the firft rains began to fall ; and though they were
but moderate, they rendered the remainder of the
month quite cool.

Though it rained a little on the 8 th of OSiober^ and
continued cloudy for feveral days ; yet the fecond rains
did not, properly fpeaking, fall till the 2 3d^ when they

Y were

i62 The Weath£r of 1744.

were plentiful, and continued three days. The re-
mainder of that month, and all the reft of the year,
afforded nothing remarkable.

A. D, MDCCXLIV.

The fnow which fell on the 5 th of January lay fix
inches deep, and continued for feveral days in places
fhaded from the fun ; which is not ufual in this
country ; the quantity that fell in this month was
likewife fomewhat extraordinary.

February and March had nothing in them different
from other years.

April was more rainy than cuftomary. On the
2 8 th, at half an hour after one in the morning, were two
pretty brifk fhocks of an earthquake, and at fix in the
evening another.

May and July were as ufual in a moderate fiim-
mer ; but June had more northerly winds, and was
hotter than common j the ufual height of the thermo-
ter being 95.

From the firft week in Auguji, feveral days of eaflerly
winds rendered the air unufually hot, which by a very
lingular, though but fmall, fhower of rain on the

The Weather of 1745. 163

30th, was cooled for a few days ; the thermometer,
P. M. falling from 9.2 to 83.

The firft rains were ufliered in by the accuftomed
^uall of wind on the 4th of September at night, and
were violent for a few hours, but did not cool the air.
On the 20th and 2 2d, one fhower of rain fell, and
rendered it more cool \ and the plentiful rain on the
evening of the 23d, and greatefl: part of the day on the
24thj completed it.

On the 1 6 th of OBober^ at night, the lecond rains
fell, with a good deal of thunder, and on the. 1 9th
fome more ; after which the reft of the year afforded
nothing that was remarkable.

A. D, MDCCXLY.

This year had nothing uncommon in the weather
till the 1 2th of March, when it became cold ; and an
unufual froft, with a north-eaft wind for a i^w days,
nipped moft of the blofToms on the trees ; the mercury
in the thermometer after noon being rarely above 54,
whereas before it was at 62.

Apj'il was remarkably dry, having but one fhower
of rain, on the 6th. May and yune had nothing extra-
ordinary.

Y 2 July,

164 ^'^^ Weather of 1746.

yuly^ except a few days at the latter end, and all
Auguft^ not being refreflied with the wefterly breezes,
and having feveral days of eafterly wind, particularly
the middle of Auguji^ were extremely hot ; the after-
noons height of the thermometer being often loo, and
twice loi.

The firft rains were very moderate, and fell on the
loth September^ being as ufual preceded by a fqual of
wind. The fecond rains fell heavy and feafonable,
about the middle of OEiober\ from which time hap-
pened nothing fingular all the reft of the year.

A. D. MDCCXLVI.

The 4th, 5th, and 6th of January this year, it
fnowed almoft continually ; fo that it lay in the ftreets
above a foot thick, which is very uncommon. It was
not all thaw'd in the city for fome days ; and in fuch
places abroad where the fun-beams did not reach, there
was ftill fome lying on the i3tli. From this time till
ywie the weather was as ufual.

It began to blow very hard wefterly on the 13 th
Ju7te^ and the wind brought along with it many clouds,
which let fall two fmall fhowers of rain on the 1 4th,
one at I o A. M. the other at 7 P. M. which funk the

mercury

The Weather of 1746. 165

mercury in the thermometer from 84, its ufual after-
noon's height, to 76 three fourths.

Augufi had none of the ufual cloudy weather ; yet
the reft of the fummer had nothing in it particular.

Though it began to be cloudy on the 4th 0I Septem-
ber^ and continued fo for a few days, and even thun-
dered ; yet no rain fell till the nth in the afternoon,
and then only a gentle fhower of about an hour, which
funk the thermonieter from 8 2 and an half, its common
afternoon's height, to 77. It foon however rofe again;
and the wind. being eafterly or northerly from the 20th
to the end of the month, the weather was unu-
fually warm ; the afternoon height of the mercury
being 85 or 86.

In the month of OSiober there fell but one fliower
of rain, the 2 5th P. M. fo that the thermometer kept
high all the month, and the weather was extremely
pleafant.

On the 2d and 3d of November the rains fell plenti-
fully ; and, through the whole of this and the fucceed-
ing month, more fell than is ufual in other years.
There did not happen either froft or fnow.

A. D.

1 66 The W E A T H E R <?/ I747*.

A. D. MDCCXLVII.

From the beginning of January till tlie end qf
March, the winds were much higher than ufual at
that feafon, neither was there any froft or fnow ; but
more rain fell in yanua?y and February than is com-
mon, and the weather in general was blea.k and unplea-
fant. The r^ft of the year till September was mild, and
very moderate.

Tl;ough it was cloudy, and threatened rain about the
20th of September, yet none fell in this month at A-
leppo ; fo the thermometer's evenings height kept up at
82 till the end of the month.

The whole oiOEiober was clear and fettled weather,
except one thunder-fliower on the 1 3th, {which funk
the mercury in the thermometer from 81 to 73) afmall'
fhower on the 2 2d, and a gentle rain the whole of the
24th.

On the 7th of Novejitber the rains began to fall plen-
tifully, the weather became as in other years, but there
was no froft in this month.

December was rather more foggy than common,
\^ithout either froft or fnow.

Being,

Of the Weather, ^c. 167

Being, for want of leifure, prevented from giving a
particular account of the epidemic difeafes from 174B
to 1 75 1, that of the weather is alfo omitted.

The change of ftile from the "Juliaji to the Grego-
rian rendering references to the general account of
the weather, which were made according to the Julia7t
calendar, indiftind:, I conceived it necefiary to give the
weather of the years 1752 and 1753 compleat.

It is true that the fhort method formerly ufed might
have ferved till September^ as the ad: of parliament did
not take place till the 3d of that month : but, befides
the want of uniformity that would have attended a
change in the method before the year was out, I
thought, that, if there were any who fhould make an
objedion to the former, this would make them fome
atonement ; and that it could be difagreeable to none,
more efpecially as the epidemic fevers of thofe two
years changed their appearances fo remarkably accord-
ing to the feafon.

The thermometer ufed, till noted otherwise, was the

lafge one, aiid the fituation during the whole two years

in the wooden kiofk. Where-ever a rainy day occurs,

with one ', it is to be underilood that a fmall fliower

4 or

1 68 7:^^ W E A T H E R 0/ 1752.

or two happened on that day ; '" denotes violent rains,
and " an intermediate degree of rain.

A. D. MDCCLII.

JANUART.^

The firft week of this month cloudy and rainy ;
from the 8th to the 29th continued clear, fair wea-
ther, with fome light clouds now and then inter-
vening.

Rainy Days.

rft and 4th " at night, 5th ", 6th " at night, with
fqualls of wind, 7th and " 29th in the night, 30th '",
and 31ft'".

Greateft height of the thermometer 56 on the 28th and 29th, at 3 P. M.
Leaft height - - 40 on the 1 0th and i ith, at 9 A.M.

Greateft height of the barometer 29 i on the 9th.
Lcaft height - - 28 5 on the 4th.

In the firft fortnight, the mercury in the thermo-
meter never rofe above 50. Through the whole
month, the moft general height at nine in the morn-
ing was 46, from which time it ufually rofe 3 or
4 degrees ; fo that at 3 P. M, it ftood at 49 or 50,
except in rainy weather, when the variation was lefs
condderable, and there was frequently none at all.

F E-

'The Weather of 1752. 169

FEBRUARY.

Light clouds were more frequent in this month than
in the former ; the weather in the afternoon often be-
came overcaft ; the three laft days ferene ; the rain
fell moftly in the night, and in violent fhowers.

Raitiy Days.

7th, begun in the evening, and continued till the
8th " in the forenoon, 9th" in the night, loth " A.M*
2 2d ', 23d '" in the night, and 24th ' in the fore-
noon.

Greatefl; height of the thermometer 53 on the 19th, at 3 P. M.
Leaft height - - 45 feveral days.

Greateft height of the barometer 28 9 for the greatefl part of the lafl fox tniglit,
Leafl height - - 28 3 on the i ith P. M.

The moft common height of the thermometer in
the morning was 48, its variation in the beginning of
the month 3, and in the middle and latter part 5, un-
lefs in rainy weather.

MAR C H.

The fame ferene weather with which the lafl montli
-ended, continued till the 9th ; from thence till the
1 8th, light flying clouds, with fome rain ; the remain-

Z der

lyo The Weather of ij^^.

der of the month ferene, except the 24th, 25 th, and
26th, which were cloudy.

Rainy Days.
8th " in the night, 9th ' P. M. 1 3th ' in the nighty
14th ", 1 6th ' in the night with thunder, 26th ', and
27th 'A.M.

Greateft height of the thermometer 67 on the 24th, at 3 P.M.

Leafl: height - - 44 on the 2d and nth, at 9 A.M.

Gieatefl: height of the barometer 289'^ fluftuated often through the month
Leafl height - - 28 5 3 between thefe two heights.

The general height of the mercury in the thermo-
meter in the morning was 45 in the beginning of the
month, about the middle 52, at the end 56. The dif-
ference between the morning and evening obfervations
grew more confiderable as the month advanced ; at the
commencement it was commonly 5, towards the end 8
or 9.

APRIL,

During the firft week, moflily clear weather, with
light, flying clouds in the afternoon. From the 7th to
the 1 2 th, variable weather, frequent hard fhowers of
rain, fometimes attended with lightening and thunder..
Thefe fhowers fell chiefly in the night or morning..
The reft of the month, except one day, clear weather,,
diverfified with light clouds.

Rainy

The Weather of ijs^- ^7*

Rainy Days.

yth' A.M. and in the night', 8th' in the night, Qth^
A.M. and a ftorm in the night, loth '", nth', 2 ad
P. M. and in the night ".

Greatefl height of the thermometer 8i on the 30th, at 3 P.M.
Leaft height - - 58 on the 8 th, at 9 A. M.

Greateft height of the barometer 28 8 on the 8th, aad from the 14th to the 1 8th.
Leaft height - - 28 4 on the 2 2d.

For the firft ten days, the morning-ftation of the
thermometer was 60, the afternoon 66, except it
rained, when the difference was lefs. The remainder
of the month, the height was commonly 65, and the
variation in the fame day 9 or 10.

MAT,

There was a confiderable quantity of rain fell the
beginning of this month. The regifter till the 1 8th is
incompleat; from the 1 8 th the weather clear and plea-
fant ; thunder in the morning of the 2 2d ; the wind
wefterly all the month, and blowing frefh, particularly
from the 20th-

Rainy Days,

3d A. M. ", in the night ", 4th ' morning.

Z 2 Greateft

1^2 T^^ Weather of 1752.

Greateft height of the thermometer 86 on the 30th, at 4 P. M.
Leaft height - - 67 on the 4th, at 3 P. M.

Greateft height of the barometer i8 9 from the 26th till the 29th P. M.
Leaft height - - 28 6 on the 4th.

From the i8th to the 29th, the common height of
the mercury in the thermometer, at ten in the morn-
ino-, was 70 j the difference in one day 6, fometimes
9. The three laft days the ftation in the morning was
78, the difference 8.

JUNE.

Fine lerene weather through the whole month ; fbme
few light, flying clouds on the 17th and 27th; from
the 7th a frefh wcfterly wind.

Rainy Days none.

Greateft height of the thermometer 92 on the 12th, at 4 P. RL
Leaft height - - 76

Greateft height of the barometer 28 9 on the 9th and icth.
Leaft height - - 28 5 from the 24th to the end.

The morning-height of the mercury, at feven
o'clock, increafed gradually with the month, from
76 to 80; as that of the afternoon, at four o'clock,
did from 85 to 91. This in general was the cafe \ but
the ftrength of the wind had alfo much influence^

J u L r.

The Weather of 1752. 173

JULY,

Serene and cool weather for the feafon, except the
kft eight days ; when the weft wind, which had blown
frefti from the beginning of the month, giving way to
calms and light breezes, it became exceeding hot.

Rainy Days none.

Greateft height of the thermometer 95 on the 30th and 31ft, at 4 P. M.
Leafl height - - 77 on the 3d, 20th, and 21ft, at 7 A.M.

Greateft height of the barometer 28 7 on the i ft.

f From the 5th, at 4 P. M. till the.
Leaft height - • 28 5 < 7th at the fame hour ; as alfo the

C 20th and 2 1 ft.

The common height of the mercury was in the
morning 80, and in the afternoon 90. In the laft
week it ftood in the morning at 85, and in the after-
noon at 94 or 95.

AUGUST.

Till the 2 1 ft, ferene, frelli weather, fome light,
flying clouds appearing now and then about mid-day,
or in th« afternoon. The 21ft, black, flying clouds
threatened rain the whole day ; from this to the end
of the month, clouds of this kind pafl^ed almoft every
day. In the nights of the 6th, 20th, and 23d, many

dark„

174- ^^ Weather of 1752.

dark, gloomy clouds, with lightening. The weft
wind jcontinued to blow frefh all the month.

Rainy Days no?ie.

v-Greatefl height of the thermometer 93 on the 12th and 17th, at 4 P.M.
Leaft height - - 74 on the 24th, 27th, and 28th, at 1 h.M^

•Greateft height of the barometer 28 8 from the 29th till the end.
Leaft height - - 28 5 on the 7th and 8 th.

The general difference in the height of the mer-
cury, betwen the morning and evening obfervation,
was 10, and the morning-height 80. In the cloudy
weather towards the end of the month, the mercury
funk to 7 5 in the morning, and in the afternoon flood
at ?>r^.

SEPTEMBER.

Dews in the night were common at the beginning of
this month. The weather till the i8th (which the
reader muft remember was but a few days, the 3d be-
ing by a6t of parliament reckoned the 14th) was much
like Augiijl. For two hours before mid-day on the
1 8th, a fmall rain ; from that till the end the wea-
ther by degrees became cooler, particularly in the
nights. The wind continued wefterly, but was not fo
frefh as in the laft month \ light, flying clouds fre-
quent in the afternoon-

Rainy

The Weather of 1752. 175

Rainy Days. i8th ' A. M.

©reateft height of the thermometer 86 on the 14th, at 4 P. M;
Leaft height - - 68 on the 29th, at 7 A. M.

Greateft height of the barometer 28 9 from the 27th till the end.
Leaft height - - 28 7 from the 15th till the 27th.

The height and variation of the thermometer was
in the beginning the fame as in the latter part of Au-
giifi ; about the 20th, the morning-height was 73,
and it continued fahing all the month. In the after-
noon it feldom rofe more than 3 or 4 degrees.

0 c r 0 B E R.

Light, iTying clouds throughout the day, a frefh weft
wind, and cool weather. From the 4th to the 15 th,
ferene, and fomewhat warm ; the wind little, and va-
riable. The 1 6th, flying clouds, and violent blafts of
wind, by which volumes of duft were raifed and hur-
ried about in a furpriflng manner. The four fucceed-
ing days the wind blew frefh from the weft or fouth-
weft. The 2 2d overcaft, and threatening rain, which
began that evening, and was violent in the night : all
next day gloomy, with fmall rain ; violent rains again
in the night. The 28th, till mid-day, as before de-
fcribed ; after that, violent fhowers, with thunder and.
lightening. It then cleared up, but forhe more raiu
fell in the evening. The remainder of the month (ex-
cept the 26th and 27th, which were cloudy) proved
ferene weather..

J.

176 7^^ Weather of 1752.

Rainy Days.
2 2d " evenings and night, 23d'", and 24th''.

Greateft height of the thermometer 80 on the 4th, at 3 P. M.

Leaft height - - 58 ou the 29th aod 30th, at 8 A. M.

^ n 1 . I r 1 1 o \ flufluated erery few days from that

Greateft height of the barometer 2894 to 28 8

Leaft height - - 28 6 on the 23d and 24th.

The thermometer^s morning-height in the firft fort-
night was commonly 72, the difference at the times
of obfervation in the fame day 5 or 6. In the laft
fortnight it fell gradually to 60, and its variation in
the day was rarely more than 3 or 4.

NOVEMBER,

The firft eight days, fine pleafant weather, lights
clouds fometimes appearing, but, except one day, no
black clouds. The afternoon of the 8th cloudy, the
two following days gloomy, with fome rain ; from the
1 1 th to the 1 6th, ferene mornings, and light clouds in
the afternoon; from that to the 20th, much cloudy
weather, with fome rain ; the five fucceeding days, fair,
and frofly. The month ended with cloudy, rainy
weather.

In the firft fortnight, light breezes of wind weft
fouth-weft, fometimes eaft or north-eaft. In the laft
fortnight, conftantly moderate eaft or north-eaft. The

wind

wind blev/ rarely frelli, or, if it did, was but for a little
while at night.

Rmny Days.

8th " at night, 9th', loth ', and i6th ' A.M.
26th ' in the night, 27th ", 28th ", and 29th " in the
night.

Greateft height of the thermometer 65 on the ift, 2d, and 3d, at 3 P.M.
Leafl height - - 46 on the 25th, at 8 A.M.

Greateft height of the barometer 29 oi on the 24th, 25th, and 26th.
Leaft height - - 28 8 the greateft part of the month.

As the month advanced, the mercury in the thermo-
meter fell from 60 to 50 ; the former being the ufual
morning-ftation at the beginning, as the latter was at
the end. The variation in the day was at firft 5, and
afterwards 3 ; in rainy weather 2, fometimes nothing.

DECEMBER.

This month begun with cloudy, gloomy weather,
which continued the firft ten days ; the mornings ge-
nerally foggy ; the nth and 12th, dark weather ; the
two following days were fair, and frofty ; from the 15 th
to the 1 8th, dark and gloomy j from that to the 23d,
froft ; from the 23d to the 28th, gloomy winter wea-
ther. Moft of the rain in this month, except on the
23d, fell after funfet.

A a Th&

178 Tbe Weather of 1753.

The wind, as in laft month, moderate, at eaft or
north-eaft.

Rainy Days.

5th " with thunder, 9th ", 23d '", 26th "y 27th %
florm in the night from the weft.

Grcateft height of the thermometer 55 on the ift, at 3 P.M.

Lead height - - 42 on the 13th and 14th, at 8 A. M.

Greateft height of the barometer 29 i on the 14th.
Leaft height - - 28 5 on the 27 th.

In the firft week the mercury ufually flood at 54;
from the 5th to the nth, at 50; from that till the
24th, that it got up again to 50, it continued fluc-
tuating between 43 and 46. The moft common height
was 44. The difference in the fame day was very in-
conflderable, never exceeding 3, and for the moft part
I, fometimes not difcernible.

A, D. M D C C L I 1 1.

J A NU AR Y.

The preceding year concluded with pleafant ferene
weather, which, one gloomy day excepted, continued
till the nth of this month ; to this fucceeded four
dark winter days ; from the 15 th to the afternoon of
the 2 2d, fair, and froft, light flying clouds now and

then -y

The Weather of 1753* 179

then ; the remainder moftly gloomy, rainy weather ;
the laft day unconamonly cold, with fome fnow ; more
ram fell in the day-time than ufual in this month.

Wind generally north-eaft or eaft, and moderate.

Rainy Days.

3d ', nth ' A. M. " in the night, 12th "', 14th ",
22d ' A. M. '' evening, 23d ' and 24th' A. M.
27th '", 28th ", 29th ", and 30th ", in the day-time.

Greatefl height of the thermometer 53 on the 7th and 8th, at 3 P. M.
Leaft height - - 40 on the 31ft, at 4 P. M.

Greatefl: height of the barometer 29 on the 6th.

Leafl: height - - 28 54 on the 30th and 31(1.

The moft common height of the thermometer, at
eight in the morning, during the firft fifteen days, was
49, the remaining part of the month 45 ; the varia-
tion in the fame daj^, at the different hours of obfer-
vation, as ufual.

FEBRUARY.

Till the 1 2th, fair, frofty weather, except the 2d
and 3d ; on the former it fnowed all day, and the
latter continued overcaft ; the 12th, cloudy, and
rained feveral hours ; the eight following days ferene,
with light clouds after mid-day ; the remaining part

A a 2 '■• • Qf_

i8o iTje W B A T H £ R of 1753.

of the montli cloudy and clear by turns ; a good mai^
jQiowers of rain, but ot no long continuance.

The wind very moderate, as in the kft month ; the
firft ten days, north-eaft or fouth-weft ; from the 15 th
to the 20th, eaft ; the laft eight days fomewhat frefher,,
weft.

Rainy Days.

i2th" began at nooii, 21ft ' P.M. 22d ' P. M,

24th' P. M. with thunder, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th,
Ihowery.

Greateft height of the thermometer 54 at 3 P.M. from the zotfeto^the end^
Leall height - - 36 on the 3d, at 8 A. M.

Greateft height of the barometer 29 oi on the 5th, 6th, and 7th.
Leaft height - - 28 6 j on the 24th, 25th, and 26th,

The height of the mercury, in the morning, for the
firft twelve days, was 38 ; after that it continued
afcending gradually to 52. The difference in the af-
ternoon, or variation in the fame day, was at the begin-
ning and middle of the month exactly as mentioned
in February laft year j the few laft days being rainy,
the variation (as ufual) was only i or 2.

MAR C H.

To the 20th, ferene, fome few light cloucts now
and tlien in the afternoon ; the 9th excepted, whicb
was cloudy and ftormy ; the remainder of the month

2 variable

The Weather, of 1753. 181

variable weather, though chiefly cloudy. The fain
fell moftly in (hort fhowers.

The firft ten days the wind variable, fouth-weft,
fouth-eaft, or eaft ; the other part of the month, com-
monly weft or fouth-weft. It was in general moderate
throughout, only fometimes blew a little frefli in the
afternoon ; ftorm on the 9th.

Rainy Days.

9th '" A. M. 2ift ' evening, 23d' P. M. 24.th",
29 ', 31ft " in the night.

Greateft height of the thermometer 6i on the 19th, 28th, and 30th, at 3 P, Mi-
Xeaft height - - 48 on the 12th, at 3 A.M. ,

' Greateft height of the barometer 28 9 \ «"^"^«'l often between that and
° ^ i 28 7 till the 20th,

Leaft height - - zS 4 oa the 22d, P. M.

The common ftation of the mercury, in the morn-
ing, was at the beginning 52, fome days about the
middle of the month 49, after which it gradually rofe
to 57 J the variation on the cloudy days 2, at other
times 4 or 5, but never fo confiderable as in the pre-
ceding March,

APRIL.

Begun with cloiidy, rainy weather; from the 2cl
to the 9th, ferene j hazey weather frequent in the fe-

concl

l82 tT/^^ W E A T H E R ^ 1753*

cond week ; the r6th and 17 th, ferene ; from this
time to the 27th, the weather unufually cool and
cloudy. There were properly only two rainy days, the
rain at other times falling only in fliort fhowers.

The reigning wind, particularly towards the end,
weft or fouth-weft ; frequent calms, and throughout
tlie month the wind moderate.

Rainy Days.

ift " P. M. 2d '", 13th ' night, 14th ' A. M. 15th ',
19th ", 2 2d" P.M. with thunder, 25th', 26th',
31ft', A.M.

Greatefl: height of the thermometer 69 on the 1 3tli, at 4 P. M.
LgaftUfight - - 51 on the 2d, at 7 A. M.

Greatefl; height of the barometer 28 8 from the 8th to the nth.
Leall height - - 28 4 on the 2cl.

As the month advanced, the morning-ftation of the
thermometer rofe gradually from 51 to 62; the varia-
tion in the fame day was generally 6, and never exceed-
ing ; but as there was much cloudy weather, it was
often only 2 or 3.

MAT.

The firft day, gloomy, with continual rain till four in
the afternoon ; the three following days, fhowery, with
thunder y the three next days, fair, with flying clouds,

and

Vthe Weather of 1753. 183

and a frefK wind ; in the evening of the 8 th, a ftorm,
and thunder; the enfuing week, much hazey wea-
ther, and the fun fometimes obfcured by the clouds ;
from the i6th to the 28th, ferene weather, and gene-
rally a frefh wind through the day, clouds fometimes
in the evening; the 28th, overcaft; the two lafldays,
windy, and feveral dark clouds pafled. Frequent calms
in this month ; the wind variable, fouth-eaft, or eaft.
When it blew frefh, as it did towards the latter end of
the month, it was at weft.

Rainy Days.

ift '", 2d ' at noon, 3d " thunder-lhowers, 4th '
P.M. 7th " with thunder P. M. 15th ' evening, 28th '
P.M.

Greatefl height of the thermometer 78 7 ^ ^^^ ^3 ^^^ ^^,^ ^f ^^e month.
Leaft height - - 59 5

Greatefl; height of the barometer 288
Leaft height - - 28 7

The morning-ftation of the mercury, in the firft
fortnight, rofe from 6i to 70 ; the variation in the
fame day advancing alfo regularly with the month from
3 to 9 {a).

{a) On the i6th of this nsonth, the thermometer ^yas unfortunately broke, and
it was the beginning of September before another could be procured.

JUNE.

1^4 The WfiATHER of 1753.

JUNE,

The weather through the whole of this month was
in general cool for the feafon ; dark clouds frequent in
thefxrft week J from the 8 th to the 14th, Ught, flying
elouds in the forenoon ; the remainder of the month
ferene^ except a few hours before noon, that light,
fleecy clouds foraetiraes appeared, but more feldom as
the month advanced.

The weft wind blew for the moft part pretty frefli
through all the month. In the afternoon of the 2d,
at a quarter paft five o*clock, there was a flight fhock
of an earthquake ; the wind frefli all that day.

Rainy Days. ift, a fmall fliower.

Greateft height of the barometer 28 8 on the i ft,

Leaft height - - 28 6i a few days towards the latter end.

The ordinary ftation of the mercury in the baro-
meter was 28 7. .

JULY.

The weather in the two flrft weeks, cool and plea-
fant, fleecy clouds, as in the laft month, often ap-
pearing before noon ; to the 2 2d, little wind, ferene,
and warm j then three days cool weather ; the re^
mainder moderate breezes, and hot. The wind weflierly.

Greateft

The Weather of 1753. 185

Greateft height of the barometer 28 6
Leaft height - - 28 5

To the 20th, the mercury in the barometer ftood
invariably at the greateft height, as it did the reft of the
month at 28 5.

AUGUST.

Through this whole month, the weather was moftly
ferene, few clouds of any kind appearing; the i ft day,
a frefli wind ; to the 1 4th, hot, and little or no wind,
particularly from the 4th the nights very hot ; from the
14th to the 19th, the weather cooler, being refrefhed
by a morning and evening breeze ; the reft of the
month, calm, or little wind ; many white clouds pafted
on the 23d and 25th, the weft wind blowing frefli.

The wind throughout wefterly.

Rainy Days none.

Greateft height of the barometer 28 6 1
Leaft height - - 28 5

The mercury in the barometer ftood at 2 8 5 from
the beginning till the 9th, from that time till the 29th
its invariable ftation was 2S 6, as on the three laft
days of the month it was 2861-.

Bb SEP-

1 86 The Weather of 1753.

SEPTEMBER.

The firft week ferene, the mornings and evenings
cool ; from the 13 th to the i6th, frequent hard gufts
of wind, that brought along with them clouds of duft,
as ufual before the autumn-rains ; flying clouds of-
ten, and fometimes dew in the nights ; frequent lighten-
ing in the weft; the 12th and 13th, fteady gales of
wind ; a little rain in the night of the 1 6th ; the four
fucceeding days, overcaft, and often threatening rain ;
from the 20th to the 25th, ferene; the remainder of
the month ftormv.

The wind wefterly.

Rai7iy Days. i6th ', 29th " noon,

(i)Greateft height of the thermometer p? on the 3d, at 4 P.M.
Leaft height - - 71 on the i8th, at 7 A.M.

Greateft height of the barometer 28 8 ^ from the 20th to the 24th.
Leaft height - - 28 5 on the 12th.

In the firft fortnight, 82 was the ufual morning-
height of the thermometer ; in the afternoon it com-
monly rofe to 89 or 90; in the ftorm it fell to 76,
and rofe in the afternoon only to 80 ; in the laft fort-
night, 7 2 was the common height in the morning ; the
variation in the fame day 8.

{*) The thermometer now ufed was a finall portable one.

OCTQ-

The Weather of 1753. 187

OCTOBER.

Mornings ferene, and flying clouds in the afternoon,
made up the weather in the firft week ; from the 9th
to the 14th, much cloudy weather ; the 15th, rainy ;
the other part of the month fair, the mornings fome-
times ferene, fometimes cloudy ; but through the day
there were generally white clouds, except the 24th,
25 th, 26th, and 29th, which were quite ferene.

The wind little, and variable ; fometimes it blew
frefh in the night at weft.

Rainy Days,

I oth " evening and night, 15th' A.M. P.M. "and
-evening.

Greateft height of the thermometer 8 1 on the i fl, at 4 P. M.
Leaft height - - 56 on the 25th, at 7 A.M.

. Greateft height of the barometer 29 o \ on the 25th.
Leaft height - - 28 7 on the i6th.

The variation of the mercury in the thermometer
was in the fame day generally 8 or 9, fometimes 5,
the morning-flation being 68 or 70 ; from the 15th
it continued gradually {inking to 5 9 ; and the varia-
tion in the fame day was 5 or 6,

Bb 2 N O-

l88 '7^2 W E A T H E R f?/" 1753.

NOVEMBER.

Tlie two lii4 days, cloudy ; the evening of the 2d
threatened faiil ; from that to the 20th, ferene and
pleafant ; from the 23d to tile 27th, gloomy weather;
the latter days of the month, ferene through the day,
but cloudy both in the morning and evening.

The wind little, and variable, at eall:, north-eaft,

fouth-eaft, ^c.

Rainy Days.

23d AM. " in the night, 25th'" in the night, 26th '

morning.

Gi-eateft height of the thermometer 71 on the 4th, at 3 P. M.
Leaft height - - 43 »" '^^ 29th, at 8 A. M.

Greateft height of the barometer 29 oi on the 19th.
Leaft height - - 287 on the 26th and 27th.

The mercury in the thermometer, in the pfogrefs of
the firft fortnight, defcended from 58 to 52, the va-
riation in the afternoon being generally 9 or 10 ; in the
laft fortnight it gradually fell from 52 to 44 ; the va-
riation in that time was feldom more than 6.

DECEMBER.

The firfl: fortnight, except two or three clear days,
was for the moft part dark and cloudy ; the 17th was
ferene, but from that to the 27th foggy ; the morn-
ing

The Weather of 1753. 189

ing of the 28 th clear, at noon cloudy, and rained vio-
lently in the evening ; the two laft days of the year
were ferene and plealant, and through the whole
month the weather was unufually mild.

Frequent calms, little winds, at eaft or north-eaft ;
on the 5 th it blew frefh at weft, with a fhower of
hail.

Rainy Days.

2d ' P. M. 3d '" in the day, 4th '" in the day, 5th'
P.M. nth' in the night, 12th " A.M. 13th ",
14th ", 23d ' night, 25th ' A. M. 28th '" afternoon
and evening.

Greateft height of the thermometer 51 on the 17th and 2ath, at 3 P.M.
Leaft height - - 43 on the 23d and 2i?th, at 8 A.'M,

Greateft height of the barometer 29 o 1: on the 20th.
Leaft height - - 28 5 on the 4th.

The height of the mercury in the thermometer
throughout the month was 44 or 45 at eight in the
morning ; the variation in rainy weather nothing, and
at other times 2 or i.

CHAP.

CHAP, III.

Of the Epidemical Difeafes, from the beginning of \']\2
to the end of 1747, and of the Tears 1752 and
1753-

A. D. MDCCXLII.

THIS year was very healthy, till about the begin-
ning of March ; when an acute fever, attended
with a pain in the right hypochonder, became very
frequent, both among adults and children, though few
of thofe were feized with it who were under ten years
old. Copious bleeding, emollient glyfters, cooling
purges, with antipholgiftic medicines internally, and
emollient fomentations to the part afFeAed, generally
relieved the fymptoms, and brought the fever to a fa-
vourable crifis on the feventh or ninth day in adults
by a plentiful fweat, and in children moft commonly
by a diarrhoea.

In fome thefe evacuations only carried off the pain,
and brought the fever to a regular intermiffion ; when it
was foon and fafely cured by the cortex ; though, if
any errors were committed in the ufe of the non-natu-
rals, the patients were very fubjedt to relapfes.

But

Of the Epidemical Difeafes in 1742. 191

But when evacuations were not ufed in due time,
the difeafe often proved fatal, or at beft the fever was
protra6ted to thirty, and even forty days, and fome few
of the fick died hecStic.

Though the above mentioned fever did not quite
difappear till the autumn ; yet, after the beginning of
yune^ it affe£led fo few, that it could fcarcely be called
epidemical.

Inflammatory quinfles were alfo frequent at this
time ; but they were not violent, and quickly yielded
to the common methods.

Through the winter the plague had been frequent in
Antab^ Kilis^ Azafs^ and moft of the villages among
the Pierian mountains ; to which places, according to
the beft information we could get, it had been brought
from Bias (/«), where it had raged the fummer before.

The Chingana\y who came as ufual from thefe parts,
about the middle of Aprils to be hired for reaping corn,
brought it with them to Aleppo. To thefe, and a
few others in the out-parts of the town, it was confined
for fome time ; and it was not till the i8th of Mayy
that we had any notice of it, when, upon ftrid en-

(fl) A town in the gulf of Scanderoon, the chief port in that part of the country
for landing goods from Egypt ; the inhabitants of which have a good deal of
commerce with the Curds, who dwell on thefe mountains.

quiry,

192 Of the Epidemical Dif cafes in 1752.

quiry, it was found that there had been fome feized with
the diftemper in the city. In a few days, it encreafed
pretty much among the Jews (who fuffered greatly in
proportion to their fmall number this feafon) and came
to be more general through the city and fuburbs, where
it continued, though in a limited degree, till the begin-
ning of July, when the extream heat of the weather
put a confiderable check to it : fome, however, were
daily carried off by the difeafe till near the •end of this
month, when it entirely ceafed. The Europea?JS fhut
up (bj this year the beginning of Juney and continued
fo about a month.

About the middle of July, diarrhoeas and dy {ente-
rics became very frequent. The difcharges at firft were
bilious, and the gripes violent. A very high fever was
a conftant attendant often with petechize, and other
malignant fymptoms : plentiful bleeding was always
neceifary at the beginning ; after which an ipecacuan
vomit, with a few dofes of rhubarb (found mod effec-
tual when a few grains of calomel were added) prepared
the way for anodynes and gentle aftringents : thefe,
with foft mucilaginous aliment, in moft inftances,
compleated the cure ; but in feveral, from a promiling
appearance, it proved fuddenly mortal ; this was like-
wife the cafe with fome in intermitting fevers that were

[h) See the method in the chapter on the plague.

now

Of the Epidemical Difeafes in 1742. 193

now epidemic, and continued with the dyfentery all
the autumn. This unexpedled fatality happened at
times, to fuch as were not fhut up, in all acute difeafes
during the time of the plague ; but buboes, or other
figns of that diftemper, were feen but feldom fcj.

About the beginnmg of September^ the fmall-pox
made their appearance, efpecially amongft children ;
but being of a mild diftind kind, very little afiiftance
was required from medicine. In OSiober this difeafe
became more frequent ; and much the greater part that
were feized, had the confluent fort, attended with hae-
morrhages, petechias, phlydanas, and other the worft of
fymptoms. Convulfions (always violent) on their firft
feizure, indicated that the pock would flux, and prove
fatal. In this confluent kind the eruptions were often
difcovered on the extremities as foon as the child was ob-
ferved to be out of order, and never were later in appear-
ing than the end of the fecond day. Thefe patients gene-
rally died on the beginning of the eleventh, reckoning
from the firfl: attack, when the difl:emper was left to na-
ture, as is commonly the cafe in this country ; or, if
they furvived, yet many of them were afterwards har-
raflTed with corroflve ulcers, carious bones, hard tumors

(c) From what I have fmce feen of the manners of the people, I have reafon
*o believe that thofe fymptoms were often concealed.

C c on

194 ^f ^^^ Epidemical Difeafes in 1742.

dn the glandular parts, difficult either to difcufs or
bring to jfuppuration, coughs, and fluxes ; which laft
loon put an end to their miferies. By degrees this great
maHgnancy feemed to wear off; (o that by December
the difeafe became mild and favourable, and moft of
the iick recovered.

The yews w^ere the mofl feverely afflided by this
fort of finall-pox.

Bleeding, bathing the extremities in warm water,
with a plentiful ufe of dihiting, antiphlogiftic medi-
cines, if ufed at the beginning, often prevented fatal
confequences. Purging in the fecondary fever, or af-
ter the decline of the difeafe, is never pradlifed here by
the natives ; from the negled: of which, perhaps, the
dreadful fymptoms above enumerated were more fre-
quent ; though they often happened when all poffible
means had been ufed to prevent them.

Inoculation is only prad:ifed here among the Chri-
ftians, and is not yet general even among them. How-
ever, it appears to gain ground daily, .though their in-
judicious method of proceeding in it feeras to lay this
praftice under feveral difad vantages. They do not ei-
ther prepare the body beforehand, or confider the ha-
bit of the child to be inoculated, or the nature of the
pock, or other difeafes of the party from whom they

9 receive

Of the Epidemical Difeafes in 1743. 195

receive infection, but carry the child to be inoculated
into the chamber of the lick ; where an old woman
opening one of the puftles with a needle, takes a little
of the rnatter upon its point ; with this needle jfhe
pricks manj times the fielliy part of the child's hand,
between the firft joint of the thumb and the fame joint
of the fore-finger, taking up a little more matter
upon the point of the needle after every two or three
pundtures ; then putting a bit of cotton on the part,
it is tied up, and the operation finiflied.

About the middle of November the plague began to
fliew itfelf again in the fuburbs called Bankufa {d\ and
that neighbourhood \ and before Chrijlmas it was found
to be in fome parts of the city, though it made little
or no progrefs.

A few pleurifies and rheumatifms began to make'
their appearance in December,

A. D. M D C C X L I 1 1.

In January^ the fmall-pox, which were now for the
moft part diftinft, abated confiderably, and by the end
of February they quite difappeared.

(</) A liigh part of the fuburbs to the north-ealt.

Cc 2 The-

196 Of the Epidemical Difeafes in 1743.

The pleurijfies aiid rheumatifms grew more common
in January y and continued through the greateft part of
February. They were commonly accompanied with
headach, thirft, and other febrile fymptoms. The
pulfe was low, quick, and hard ; the urine not fo
high-coloured as ufual in thofe inflammatory fevers,
but without fediment. The blood was fizey. The
pains of the rheumatics were not generally very acute,
though fixed, and more efpecially in the knees, which
foon fwelled confiderably, and were often fubje6b to great
weaknefs long after the pain and fever were removed.

In both difeafes the method of cure was the fame.
They could not for the moft part bear fuch large and
repeated bleeding as is ufual in thofe inflammatory
cafes at other times ; but, by moderate bleeding, twice,
or at moft thrice, cooling purges, emollient fomenta-
tions to the parts in pain, a plentiful ufe of antiphlo-
giftic and faponaceous diluters, with volatiles added to-
wards the decline of the difeafe, they fpeedily re-
covered.

During the winter, a continual fever, much like that
of the preceding fpring, affecfted feveral ; but the pain-
in the right hypochonder did not fo commonly at-
tend it.

During

Of the Epidemical Difeafes in 1743. 197

During the courfe of the fpring, intermittents were
common ; but they had nothing in them particular.

The plague which had continued in the fuburbs
during all the month of January^ though hitherto it
had made but little progrefs, now began to fpread
among the Jews in the city, and feized many of the
Chriftians in the month of February ; though, as it was
then diminifhed at Bankufa^ it might more properly
be faid to have changed its quarters, than to have aug-
mented its forces.

About the beginning of March, fome yews and
furksy who were known to the Europeans, dying fud-
denly, they began to be alarmed. However, whether
from a cefTation of the diftemper, or from great in-
duftry ufed in concealing it, together with the natural
credulity of mankind in what they wifh to be true,
cannot eafily be determined ; but certain it is, that we
then heard no more of it, and moft people flattered them-
felves with hopes that it was entirely ceafed : but, on
the 20th of March, we were credibly informed, that
two yews were dead in the fame houfe, and that feve-
ral other perfons of different fedls were dead or in-
fedted, which raifed a frefh alarm amongft us ; and,
in truth, theincreafe became foon too viiible, particularly
among the Armenians, who fuffered in a very extraor-
dinary

19B Of the Epid£?mcal Difeafes in 1743.

dinary manner during the whole continuance of the
diftemper.

Hitherto the greatefl part of the infedled were wo-
men and children, and moftly in the fuburbs ; but,
about the beginning of Api^ily there was a manifefl en-
creafe of the burials in the city, and feveral were feized
in the Khams^ where the Europeans live, fo that moft
of them fliut up the nth of that month.

It continued encreafing gradually in all parts, and
among all forts of people during the month of Aprils
but continued its ravages in May with much more vio-
lence, and arrived at its greateft height, according to
the reports we received, about the laft of that month,
when the number of burials was every day apparently
great. But as we had no account that could be de-
pended upon, it is not pofHble to afcertain the precife
number. Our lift of the Chriftians was however tole-
rably exadl ; and, notwithftanding many of them were
gone out of the city, and the reft who could afford it
were fhut up, though not in the moft regular way,
their burials amounted from 20 to 30, and fometimes
34 a-day. Hence it is evident, that the number of
Turks muft have been very conftderable ; though, ac-
cording to the informations of thofe who remember
former plagues in this place, the mortality attending
this was but very moderate.

About

Of the Epidemical Difeafes in 1743. 199

About the beginning of June the diftemper de-
creafed pretty much amongft the Turhy according to
the accounts brought to us, though the number of
Chriilian burials (of which we were informed with
more certainty) diminifhed but Httle. From the 1 3th
to the 17th, it again encreafed, particularly among
the Turks^ though not to the height it was at about the
end of May. On the 1 8th it began again to decline,
and continued decreafing with a furpriftng rapidity,
fome fmall interruptions excepted, till the end of the
month, by which time the burials were reduced to a
very few. However, they kept at that ftand the greateft
part of July \ nor could the city be faid to be quite
exempt from the infedion till about the middle of Au~
guji^ though it was fo much abated that moft of the
Europeans got abroad about the i8th oi July.

About the beginning of Augujly intermittent fevers
became frequent, and were at their height in Septem-
ber\ after which they abated, but did not entirely
eeafe till the clofe of the year.

For a few days after their commencement, they often
refembled continual fevers, with violent and irregular
fymptoms, not unlike thofe of the plague ; but, af-
ter bleeding and vomiting, or, what was moft com-
monly praaifed, purging, with a plentiful ufe of ni--

trous.

200 Of the Epidemical Difeafes in 1744.

trous medicines, they formed into tertians, double
tertians, or quotidians, and were fpeedily and fafely
cured by the ufe of the bark. It was remarkable in
thofe fevers, that they affeded many more of the Eu--
ropeans than epidemics in this country commonly do.

Diarrhoeas were alfo frequent throughout the au-
tumn, and till the end of December ^ but without any
thing particular in their fymptoms.,

From the middle of November till the end of the
year, we now and then heard of a perfon dying of the
plague ; but thefe inftances were very rare, hardly
more than two of whom we could be certain that they
had the diftemper.

A. D. MDCCXLIV.

A few pleurilies and peripneumonies occurred du-
ring the months of 'Ja7iicary and Febt^uary ; but thefe
were not either frequent or violent, yielding, and that
very quickly, to the common methods.

About the middle of February the chincough broke
out among the children. It was often attended with a
fmart fever, and pain in the lide. Copious bleeding
was neceffary, cooling purges, with pedoral and anti-
ph\pgiftic medicines, and, towards the decline of the

fever,

Of the Epidemical Difeafes i7t 174.4. 201

fever, blifters, which were moft efFeAual when applied
to the part aiFedted : but it was not often that the pa-
rents would confent to this appHcation, having in ge-
neral a great aversion to bHftering on any account.
Notwithftanding this treatment, the fever, and often
the pain, remained fourteen days, and the cough for
two or three weeks after ; but the force of it was much
diminifhed, and the intervals between the fits long.
This difeafe ceafed by the end of March.

At this time alfo an inflammatory fever, without af-
fecting any particular part, was frequent amongft chil-
dren ; which bleeding, purging, and nitrous medi-
cines, with the teftacea, commonly carried off in a
few days.

For want of bleeding, the above mentioned difeafes
proved fatal to many, this operation being fcarce ever
performed upon children by the phyficians of this
country. They content tliemfelves with making a few
flight fcariiications on the top of the ears, or on the
calves of the legs ; from whence they feldom procure
more than a few drops of blood.

The plague, which began to appear in November^
made very little progrefs during the months of yanuary
and February. In March it became a little more ap-
parent, and proceeded exadlly in the fime courfe as the

D d year

202 Of the Epidemical Difeafes in 1744.

year before, cealing entirely about the middle of Aii-
gufi. The number of the infedled were but few ; fo
that the Englijh nation did not fhut up at all, and fome
of the Frejich only towards the middle of May.

In the preceding years, I prefcribed for the fick
chiefly from the accounts I had from a perfon I em-
ployed to vifit them ; for though, notwithftanding all
my precautions, I was often deceived by falfe repre-
fentations, and employed to vifit fome of the infeded
before we fhut up, yet I avoided it to the utmoft of
my power ; but this year, the fears of infedtion being
(like that of all other dangers to which one has been
long expofed) much wore off, I attended the flck of the
plague in common with thofe under other difeafes.

Intermittents made their appearance about the middle
of March ^ and continued till the beginning of May.
Thofe who had laboured under this difeafe in the au-
tumn, were now the moft fubje6l to it.

As the greateft part were regular, formed tertians, a
vomit or purge, with the ufe of the cortex, was all
that was neceffary to cure them ; and the fame medi-
cine, with the warm bitters, and elixir of vitriol, were
continued for fome time after, to prevent a relapfe.

In 'Jiine^ July., Augujl^ and part of September^ a
malignant fever was common, attended with much the

fame

Of the Epidemical Difeafes in 174.4. 203

fame Symptoms as the plague, excepting buboes and
carbuncles. The vomiting, with which it began,
lafted for feveral days, and the fever continued at lead
till the fourteenth, but often longer ; fome few after
the fourteenth had regular intermifTions.

The method of cure was much the fame as that of

the plague, only that they bore a fecond bleeding, and

nitrous medicines, better than I ufually found they did

in that diftemper. When the fever intermitted, the

bark was given with fuccefs.

From yune till December^ intermittent fevers of va-
rious forms were very frequent. They did not put on
the appearance of continual fevers in the beginning, like
thofe of the laft year ; but, if they were not timely
flopped by the bark after the fourth paroxyfm, (viz.
the feventh day) there was no remiiHon ; but the fever
became continual, remaining at leaft till the fourteenth
day, but more frequently till the twenty-firft, if it did
not prove fatal before, which was often the cafe while
the warm weather continued.

A few diarrhoeas occurred between the end of Au-
gujl and the beginning of yaiiimry. In November and
December fome pleurilies and quinfies appeared j but
neither of thefe difeafes had any thing in them diffe-
rent from thofe of other feafons.

D d 2 A. D.

204 Of the Epidemical Difeafes ift 1745.

A. D. M D C C X L V.

We had no difeafe that could be called epidemic,
excepting the fpring-intermittents, which began early
(January)^ and continued till the beginning of May.
They indeed were more frequent than ufual.

The fummer-fevers among the young children be-
gun in June^ and were generally accompanied with a
diarrhoea, but had nothing unufual.

Intermittents alfo made their appearance this year in
yune^ and were numerous till December \ biit though
they were very liable to return, they were not of a
bad kind.

A i^v^ dyfenteries were to be 'met with in the au-
tumn, but fcarce fo many as to entitle the difeafe epi-
demic.

In September^ the fmall-pox appeared among the chil-
dren. The few that were firft feized had a mild, dif-
tindt pock ; but by the middle of OBober they became
very common, and the generality of the fick had a bad
confluent kind, which proved fatal to many on the
eleventh day from their feizure ; but of fuch as were
treated after Sydenham'^ method, very few died. The
moft part of thofe that recovered had inflammatory tu-
mors

Of the Epidemical Difeafes i7t i'j^6, 205

mors on the elbows, which always fuppurated, and pro-
ved tedious in their cure ; but, if timely opened, the
bone was feldom affedled.

A. D, M D C C X L V I.

The fmall-pox, which had raged violently in I^o-
'vember and Decembe?-^ became milder in yanuary^ as
alfo lefs frequent, and by the beginning of February
entirely difappeared.

In January and February feveral had inflammatory
fevers, which were commonly cured in a few days by
bleeding, cooling purges, and a plentiful ufe of ni-
trous medicines.

In June^ a putrid fever, with petechia, began, and
continued during the months oi July ^.nd Auguji -, but
the number of the fick was but fmall. It however fel-
dom proved fatal, but commonly terminated happily by
a critical fweat on the eleventh day, or at the furtheft
on the fourteenth.

This autumn was moft remarkably free from inter-
mittents ; none were feen before September^ and they
totally difappeared by November. The remainder of
the year was very healthy.

A. D.

•«

2o6 Of the Epidemical Difeafes in 1747.

A. Z). MDCCXLVII.

As the laft year ended, {b this begun, free from any
difeafe that had the appearance of an epidemic. A few-
diarrhoeas occurred during yaiuiary and February, in
April peripneumonies affected feveral, and now and
then through all thefe months intermittents appeared :
but none of thefe difeafes were either frequent or dan-
gerous ; fo that this feafon might be efteemed one of
the moft healthy.

In May a putrid fever broke out, and was very fre-
quent through the whole of the fummer, and to the
end of OSiober ; after which, though it became lefs
common, yet it now and then fhewed itfelf till the end
o^ January 1748.

This fever began with a fhivering and vomiting,
which were foon fucceeded by violent headachs, pains
over the whole body, and an evident lofs ot ftrength,
though the pulfe was full and hard for the firft four
days. The tongue was firft white, then became brown,
hard, and dry. Moft of the fick became delirious on
the fifth day, and towards the end of the difeafe coma--
tofe. The heat was violent, both internally and ex-
ternally, with regular exacerbations in the evenings,
preceded by flufhings in the cheeks. Purple fpots,

about

Of the Epidemical Difeafes in i']\']' 207

about the fize of a flea-bite, generally broke out over
the whole body about the fifth day, and the fever moft
commonly ended by a plentiful fweat, either on the
feventh or by the ninth ; fometimes indeed it continued
to the eleventh. At its firft appearance, the four-
teenth day was ufually critical. Signs from the urine
were very fallacious. However, in proportion to the
number of the fick, and violence of the fymptoms,
this fever was not very mortal.

The method found mofk effecTmal in treating the fick,
was to bleed plentifully on the firft days of the difeafe ;
once to difcharge the contents of the primae vias, with
a gentle laxative, which was the more necefiary, as
the generality of the fick voided quantities of worms ; to
give nitrous medicines in fmall dofes often repeated,
with the plentiful ufe of the fpir. vitriolic and cooling
o-lyfters pro re ?mta. Towards the end of the difeafe,
warmer medicines were added as the ftate of the pulfe
feemed to indicate ; and blifters, when the fick could
be prevailed upon to admit them, were of great fer-
vice.

In September and OBober feveral were feized with a
fever that feemed different from that before defcribed,
and which indeed proved fatal to more than one half
of thofe who were afflided with it.

The

2o8 Of the Epidemical Difeafes in 1747.

The firft attack of this fever was by a flight fliiver-
ing and naufea, fometimes a vomiting. Thefe were
not fucceeded by any violent heat, but by an excef-
flve languor, and moft exquilite pains over the whole
body. The head either did not ache at all, or but very
little. Several times in a day, however, they com-
plained of a lancinating pain, which, as they exprefled
it, run through their head ; and as it came fuddenly, it
as fuddenly went off again ; and, though they had no
great pain, they complained of a giddinefs, and con-
llant noife in their ears, like the rulhing of water. From
the very beginning they laboured under great deje6tion
of fpirits ; and their eyes appeared muddy, with a
particular ghaftly look, much like to that of a perfon in
the plague. The tongue was moift ; and, like one in
health, for feveral hours they feemed to be without
thirft, or other uneafmefs, and then would fuddenly
complain of a violent internal heat, and drink great
quantities of liquor greedily, though neither their pulfe
nor tongue were altered, nor any external heat to be
obferved.

The urine was of a ftraw-colour, without cloud or
fediment, till the flxth day, when there appeared in it
a fmall cloud fufpended about half-way ; and this ap-
pearance it had in thofe who died, as well as in thofe
who recovered. They flept very Httle, or not at all, du-

5 ""g

Of the Epidemical Difeafes in ij^-y. 209

ring the whole courfe of the difeafe. The pulfe from
the beginning to the end was but very Uttle quicker
than natural ; about the fifth day it funk, and about
twelve hours before death was not to be felt. The
fick were fcarcely ever delirious, and never comatofe,
continuing entirely fenfible till they expired, which
was commonly on the feventh day of the difeafe. Thofe
who recovered had a crifis by a plentiful fweat on the
ninth. None of the fick had any petechias.

The blood that was drawn on the firft day was like
that of a perfon in health ; but, after the third day, it
was of the colour of coffee-grounds, appearing quite
thin as it run out of the vein, and, when cold, was
bluiih on the top, and but very loofely coagulated.

This fever did not appear any way infectious ; for I
obferved no inftance wherein two perfons had it in the
fame family, nor where any of the fick could be fup-
pofed to have caught it from another affected with the
difeafe : and indeed the v/hole number of the fick that
came within my knowledge did not amount to above
thirtv, twelve of whom were my own patients, and
out of thefe I loft four. The others feemed to owe their
recovery to a pretty large bleeding, and an ipecacuan
vomit at the beginning of the difeafe, fmali and repeated
dofes of puh. contrayervce comp. with a lew grains of
?utr. ftihiat. gentle anodynes, with moderate acidulated

E e cordials

2IO Of the Epidenikal Difeafes in 1747.

cordials pro re nata^ and an emollient refrigerating
gjyfter every evening. Towards the fifth day, a warmer
regimen was necefiary, with blifters applied to the back,
legs, and arms, according as the finking of the pulfe
feemed to require.

Plenty of barley-water, acidulated with Ipirit of vi-
triol, was allowed for the patient's drink ; and panada,
rice-gruel, and roafted apples, for food ; though, to
fuch as would not be contented with this diet without
the addition of butter, which is the method of this
country, I chofe rather to allow weak chicken-broth,
with crum of bread, or a little rice, boiled in it.

The autumnal intermittents were this year but few ;
nor did any other difeafes befides thofe already men-
tioned appear fo frequently as to claim the title of epi-
demics.

From the year 1748 to 1751, I was prevented from
taking notes in the manner that was necefiary to fur-
niih an account of tlie epidemics of thofe years, by a
conftant engagement in the duties of my profefiion, to-
gether with an almoft daily attendance on the Bajhaw ;
which however furnifhed me with an opportimity of
feeing more of the manners of the people than I
fiiould otherwife have done, and was fully recompenfed
by the large prefents, and other public marks of his fa-
vour, which he was pleafed to confer on me. In ge-
neral^

Of the Epidemical Difeafes from 1747 /<? 1752. 21.1

neral, however, the firft three years were healthy, if we
except the meafles and fmall-pox, which were fome-
times in this period very frequent. The meafles firft made
their appearance in the fpring of 1749, and finifhed in
the fpring of 1 750. As this difeafe had not y'ldttd. Aleppo
for feveral years, it affe6led numbers of adults, as well as
children ; fo that it was no uncommon thing to fee the
father, mother, children, and fervants, all fick of the
meafles together. No defcription of the difeafe could
be more exad: than that which Sydenhcmi gives us of
1670, nor any method of cure more effeftual, none
having died that were treated after his manner, though
it proved fatal to many of thofe who were treated after
the manner of the country ; which is, to keep them
extremely warm, and on the ninth day to take the fick
out of the hot room, in which they have been kept, to
the bagnio j w^ithout which they imagine that the fick
would fall into an incurable diarrhoea : whereas in the
fmall-pox, which one would imagine is a difeafe that
fhould require more wafhing, they don't allow them
to go to the bagnio till after the fortieth day.

The fmall-pox made their appearance about the
middle of Augufi 1750, and were at firft of a bad con-
fluent kind : however, they became more mild by the
middle of November^ and difappeared early in the
fpring.

E e 2 The

212 Of the Epidemical Difeafes in 1752.

The harveft of the year 1750 proved bad ; ib that
a want of corn began to be felt early in the winter, and
the poor were much diftrelTed for want of bread. The
new baJJjaw embraced this opportunity to bring in large
quantities of wheat from his own granaries at Hamah^
where it had been hoarded up for feveral years ; by
which means it was very much damaged, and the bread
made of it was extremely black and mufty : however, it
was all that the poor had to eat till the coming in of
the new grain.

About the beginning of yime 1751, a moft fatal
dyfentery made its appearance, and continued till the
middle of Novetnber ; and pofTibly proceeded as much
from the bad bread, as the epidemic conftitution of the
air, though both caufes perhaps concurred in pro-
ducing it.

A. D. M D C C L I r.

The firft part of the year was very healthy ; but, about
the vernal equinox, a continual fever began, which at-
tacked a great many people of all ranks, and continued
with violence till near the end of July ; after whick
the number of the Tick diminifhed greatly, and by the
middle of September this fever quite difappeared.

It began in the ufual way, by a flight fhivering, and
often with a naufea ; to which fucceeded heat, thirft,
headach, and pain in the loins. The head was much

confufed

Of the Epidemical Difeafes /Vz 1752', 213:

confufcd from the firft feizure, and a remarkable ftu-
pidity appeared in the patient's look. The tongue be-
came immediately white, foon after brown, and often,
towards the end of the difeafe, was covered with a
black crufl:. The pulfe was quick, but feldom hard or
full, and continued in a more equal ftate than I ever
obferved in any other fever in this country, few or none
of the fick having any remiflion or exacerbations, the
heat and other fymptoms continuing almoft uniformly at
one regular ftandard from the beginning to the end, if
the patient's ftrength was not exhaufted by unfeafon-
able evacuations and improper management. On the
ninth or eleventh day moft of the fick had an haemor-
rhage from the nofe, which in fome feemed to mitigate
the fymptoms, though many grew worfe upon it ; in
others it had no manifefb effe6t, either good or bad.
The crifis was almoft always by a plentiful fweat ; but
this happened to none at the firft appearance of this
difeafe before the fourteenth, and to the greater part on
the feventeenth.

Towards the end of May^ the hjemorrhage com-
monly happened on the feventh day, and a copious dif-
charge by fweat on the eleventh ; which, though it very
much relieved, yet was not a perfedl crifis, the fever
never quite leaving them till the fourteenth. Many of
the fick now had petechia.

214 Of the Epidefnical Difeafes in i'j$2.

As the hot weather advanced, fo likewife thefe dif-
charges came on earHer in the difeafe ; fo that by the
latter end of ymie almoft all had the haemorrhages, the
fifth or feventh, and on this lafl: the fweats likewife.
And what is very remarkable is, tliat from about this
time till the epidemic ceafed, though the fick had been
duly purged after the fever, and theutmoft care taken
in relped: to the non-naturals ; yet none of them
elcaped a relapfe, which feized them in the fame way
as the preceding fever, only the heat was much more
intenfe. The fecond day they were taken with violent
pains in the hypochonders, bilious vomitings, and of-
ten purging, which left them the third day ; a fmart
fever remaining till the fifth, with many remifilons and
exacerbations, when a critical fweat put an end to it ;
I mean in fuch as had recovered of the preceding fever
on the feventh day ; but fuch as had grown better on
the fourteenth, did not recover of the relapfe before
the eleventh.

Several of the fick had the fever fo flightly, that they
were able to walk abroad ; but, notwithftanding this
mildnefs of the fymptoms, the difeafe continued the
fame number of days as in the others.

Though this fever was not in its own nature very
dangerous, yet it proved fatal to many, particularly in
the months of ^pril and May^ when the number of

the

Of the Epidemical Difeafes in 1752. 215

the fick was very great, and the fev^er was of long
continuance. The increafe of its mortality was pro-
bably owing to bleeding and purging, which were of-
ten ufed by the natives towards the eleventh day of the
difeafe, and to which they were prompted by the fpon-
taneous hemorrhages, and an impatience under the
long duration of the fever ; but it feldom happened
that any evacuations were ufed after the eighth day,
without manifeft detriment to the fick, either by re-
tarding their recovery, or finking them irretrievably.

» Of feveral hundreds that were treated after the fol-
lowing method, only two died. As foon as the per-
fon was taken ill, he was blooded pretty largely ; next
day he took a laxative potion of infuf.fe?iit(Z limofi. and
manna, and in the evening of that day a gentle anodyne.
If he was ftrong and plethoric, the bleeding was re-
peated the third day ; but, after this, blood was feldom,
if ever, taken. Nitrous medicines, with a fmall pro-
portion of pulv. conirayerv. compojit. were given every
fix hours, and the laft encreafed or diminifhed ac-
cording as the pulfe feemed to require ; and towards
the end of the difeafe, or when the pulfe was low,
the pulv. contrayerv. comp. Phar. Edin, was fubftituted
in its ftead. A glyfter of milk, pulp of cafBa fiftula,
or fugar, and a little oil, was injeded every evening
till the eleventh, if the head was much confufed, and

2 the

2i6 Of the Epidemical Difeafes in 1752.

tlie body coftive, which was generally the cafe in the
firfi: months ; though afterwards, when the difeafe be-
came more acute, moft of the fick had feveral ftools
every day.

When petechia appeared, and the heat was intenfe,
with great languor, moderate cordials, acidulated with
fpir. vitrioliy together with the above mentioned pow-
ders, were repeated as necefTity required.

The fecond day after the crifis, they were purged
with the fame potion as at the beginning, and it was
repeated at proper intervals, once or twice : when a *
tendency to relapfes became fo general, a deco6lion of
the cortex, with a fmall proportion of elixit^ vitriolic
was given to prevent them, and often with fuccefs.

In thefe relapfes, though the fymptoms feemed vio-
lent, they were feldom or never blooded. When the
vomiting came on, the fick were ordered to drink
quantities of warm water, to wafli the ftomach ; glyfters
were occafionally injeded, and the medicines before
mentioned exhibited.

The patient's drink was a ptifan, in common ufe
here, made of barley, grafs-roots, and a few injubs,
fometimes acidulated v^ith lemon-juice ; their food,
weak chicken-broth, with a little rice, or criim of

bread,

Of the epidemical Difeafes in 1752. 217

br'cad, boiled in it, and now and then a roafted
apple.

From the beginning of the fummer till the end of
September .^ the chincough was frequent among the chil-
dren ; but though it was very violent, it much fooner
gave way to medicines than I ever knew it ; for by
once bleeding, (which was generally v^ith leeches) a few
purges, and a weak folution of gum ammoniac in wa-,
ter, with a Imall proportion of aaet, fcillitic. &' ti?i6l.
cajior. they either foon recovered, or the cough grew
much lefs frequent and violent, and went off entirely
in about a fortnight more.

This year the fever ufually attending young children
was more frequent than in others.

Scarcely one intermittent was to be met with this
autumn ; and the place was exceeding healthy till the
middle of Nove?nber^ when a fever became very fre-
quent (chiefly among children three years old and up-
wards) with a fwelling in one or both parotids, the ma-
xillary glands, and fometimes over the whole face.

Bleeding, with a gentle purgative once or twice re-
peated, and a low diet, generally cured thofe that had
it the moft violently in five or fix days, and fuch as
had it flightly recovered without any afiiftance in about
the fame time i and though this fever continued to af-

F f fed

21 8 Of the Epidemical Difeafes in 1753.

fedl great numbers all the year, and till about the
middle of Jaituary 1753, I did not hear of any to
whom it proved fatal.

A. D. MDCCLIII.

W ith this year commenced a continual fever, which
was chiefly confined to adults, and to the northern
fuburbs of the city, where the Chriftians moftly in-
habit.

The difeafe began with a fliivering and naufea, but
the patient feldom vomited. The heat was intenfe
during the firft two or three days, the pulfe flrong and
frequent : the fick did not fo much complain of pain,
as of great confufion in their head, and noife in their
ears, acute pains in their back, legs, and arms ; which
laft they could fcarcely bear to move. The tongue
was at firft white, afterwards yellow, and towards the
height of the difeafe generally black. From the begin-
ning their afpedl was ftupid, and by the fixth day they
became delirious ; from the feventh to the ninth pe-
techize appeared over the whole body, not round, as
ufual, but in irregular figures. The pulfe by this time
began to fink, and they were often comatofe ; from the
ninth to the eleventh, a moderate fweat fometimes
broke out, or they had a few loofe ftools, which feemed
to relieve, and for the prefent to abate the fymptoms ;

yet

Of the Epidemical Difeafes in 1753. 219

yet the fever always continued till the feventeentli day,
when it began to decline gradually, and went off with-
out any remarkable evacuation. When the head was
much affedled, the urine was pale as water, without any
fediment ; in fome it was of a blackifh caft, like a w^eak
tindhire of fteel. On the eleventh day it commonly
let fall a white fediment in thofe who recovered ; and
indeed all who were treated in the method mentioned
for the continual fever of laft year (with the addition of
finapifms to the foles of the feet, for they are much
averfe to blifters) recovered.

Thofe who were bled to any conliderable quantity
after the feventh day generally died on the ninth or the
eleventh.

This fever continued to prevail till the beginning of
February^ when the very cold weather we had at that
time put a check to it ; fo that, from the beginning to
the 2 oth, I faw but two perfons who had any appear-
ance of it. Thefe, befides the above mentioned fym-
ptoms, had an acute pain in the right hypochonder af-
fecting their breathing, and bore larger bleeding than
could be endured without great injury in the preceding
conftitution, and the blood was iizey. Both thefe pa-
tients had a criiis of the fever by a large hasmorrhage
from the right noftril on the feventh day, and very nearly
about the fame hour in which they were firft feized.

F f 2 la

2 20 Of the Epidemical Difeafes in 1753.

In one of them the hsemorrhage was accompanied by a
diarrhoea, and about a fortnight after he had a regular
tertian.

In yanuary feveral old people had apoplexies, though
few proved mortal : they commonly ended in hemi-
plegias, which in feveral, though much advanced in
years, gave way to medicine.

About the 20th of February, the continual fever
above mentioned, which had almoft totally leafed upon
the fetting in of cold weather, again made its appear-
ance, and with additional force. Almoft all now
had petechize, which were round, very fmall, and of a
purple colour. Thefe, after the twelfth or thirteenth
day, difappeared, without any manifeft alteration in
the difeafe. The urine during the firft three or four
days was of an orange colour, and towards the feventh
let fall a copious white fediment ; after that it became
clear and pale as water till the eleventh or twelfth ;
when, though it ftill retained the fame appearance
whilft warm, when cold it let fall a fediment like fine
flour, and continued thus till the end of the difeafe,
which always happened on the feventeenth.

Many of the {ick in the fever, both of this and the
laft year, voided many worms of the round kind, and
towards the height of the difeafe almoft all were deaf,

. - which

Of the Epidemical Difeafes in 1753. 221

which laft was a good figii ; and it may here be re-
marked, that thefe two fymptoms are almoft common
to all fevers in Aleppo.

About the middle of April near one fourth of the
people were feized with violent coughs, which did not
either laft long with thofe attacked, or in the compafs of
a few days continued to fpread any farther.

The Jews^ who had hitherto kept pretty clear of the
fever, though it was now very common in the city, be-
gan to feel its effeds feverely very foon after their feaft,
about the middle of April.

In May feveral of the fick had a critical fweat on the
feventh day, preceded in fome by an haemorrhage from
the nofe ; but all who had this haemorrhage, in about
five or fix days after, had a return of the fever, which
was more violent than at the firft attack, and continued
five days. In feveral thofe relapfes v/ere accompanied
with peripneumonic fymptoms, and required bleeding.

Children had hitherto efcaped this difeafe ; but in
this month (May) a confidcrable number of them, from
nine years old and upwards, were feized with it. The
fymptoms and duration were much the fame as in
adults ; only their moft frequent complaint was of
pains in the belly, and they voided worms either by vo-
miting or ftool, chiefly of the round kind.
■ The

2 2 2 Of the Epidemical Dtfeafes in 1753. -

The number of the lick was much diminilhed by the
beginning of Juney and .the fever quite difappeared be-
fore July.

The method purfued in the cure of the fever of laft
year was attended with the fame fuccefs in this ; and
evacuations after the feventh day, as in the preceding,
fo likewife in the prefent, were always prejudicial, and
often fatal.

The fummer-fever, commonly incident to young
children in this country, began this year in June., and
continued through the fummer as cuftomary.

In yidy a very few were feized with mild dyfente-
ries, others with intermittents, chiefly quartans ; but
neither of thefe diftempers were fo frequent as to be
termed epidemic.

The ophthalmias, which, according to cuftom, were
epidemic in September^ had this particular from other
years, that the inflammation was chiefly external in the
palpebrae.

Both this and laft year furunculi were frequent on
different parts of the body, but more elpecially the
fingers ; in November ^ and part of December ^ they of-
ten broke out in the armpits, but without any other
diforder.

Of the Epidemical Difeafes in 1753. 223

A very few had pleurifies in December y and feveral
died fuddenly of apoplexies about this time.

It fhould have been before obferved, that the conti-
nual fever of this year, particularly after the month of
February y feldom afFeded one perfon in a houfe, with-
out going through two thirds of the family ; but it
was rare to find two fick together, one being generally
a few days recovered before the other was taken ill.

CHAP.

\j JnL Jx, Jr* iVi

Of the PLAGUE.

/

Sect. I.
Of the Plague in General,

IT is the common opinion of the inhabitants of
Aleppo^ that they are vifited with the plague about
once in ten years, and that it is brought thither from
fome neighbouring city, where it firft makes its ap-
pearance, as Antab^ Urfa^ &*€. to the northward, or
Damafcus to the fouthward ; from which laft place it
is generally alledged that the worft plagues have
been brought ; though fome aflert that thofe which
have come from the northward have raged with the
greateft violence.

With refped: to the intervals between the returns
of the plague, though that of 1742 is an exception,
yet the common opinion feems in fome meafiire to be

G g founded

2 26 Of the Plague in General.

founded on experience {a). And it feems a fad pretty-
well attefted, that it never rages at Aleppo without ha-
ving firft viHted fome of the above mentioned places ;
though the firft appearance of all is, from what I have
been able to learn, always in fome town on the coaft
of Syria {b\ If it firft fliews itfelf in Sidon^ Byroot^ or
Tripoly^ Da??2afcus is ufually the channel through which
it comes X.o Aleppo-, but if in Sca?2deroo?i or Byajs, then
it commonly pafles by way oH A7itab, Killisy Urfa^ &c.

During the winter this difeafe is conftantly mode-
rate ; as the fpring advances it grows more violent, it

All the fafts mentioned in the notes are taken from old journals or letters writ-
ten at the times they happened.

[a] In a letter written at Aleppo in the year 17 19, by an Englifh gentleman who
bad then been about thirty years in that country, the author fays, that, fines
'he had been there, the plague had never vifited them oftener than once in ten or
twelve years. Thofe within the memory of the people were in 17 19, 1729, 1733,
and the late one, which ended in the year i 744 ; fince which time ten years are
«Qow elapfed without any appearance of it, either here or upon the coaft of Syria.

(/') Some have told me, that the plague of 1719 came from the northward;
but none of the journals or letters T have periifed make any mention of this cir-
cumftance ; though all of them confirm its raging at Tripoli, Sidon, fc. fome
months before it appeared, at Aleppo.

In the year 1728 the plague made great havock in Egypt, and in the fummer
of that year it raged at Byafs, and the parts adjacent -, but did not break out
at Aleppo till the year 1-29.

At ! ripoly, Sidon, and Damafcus, the plague raged in the year 1732. It
"Was 1733 before it raged at Aleppo.

For the progrefs of the laft plague, fee p. 191. concerning its coming to
Aleppo ; from thence it went to Dainafcus, and the coaft of Syria, where its
greateft force was exerted in the year 1 74.4 ; at which time it was greatly abated
at Aleppo,

Gomes

Of the Plague in General. 227

comes to its height in yune^ decreafes greatly in yulyy
and certainly difappears in Augufi ; and this feems to be
the conftant courfe of the plague at Aleppo : (o that
none are ever feized with it in the months of Septem-
ber and OBober^ even in fuch extraordinary inftances
as when it has made its appearance for three years fuc-
ceflively, as it did in 1742, 1743, and 1744 [c).

A confiderable difference is obfervable, both as to
the mortality and number of the infeded, in difierent
years ; but it does not appear that it has ever raged
in this country with the violence that it has often done
in Europe.

Extreme heat feems to check the progrefs of the dif-
temper ; for though, during the few firft hot days, the
mortality, as well as the number of thofe newly infeded,

{c) la the year 1 7 1 9, the plague made great havock, and advanced To faft in
the fpring, that the Europeans (hut up about the middle of March, and opened
about the middle of July.

In 1729 the number of the fick being few, it was the middle of May before
any fhut up, and they were not above a month confined.

In 1733 the difeafe raged with violence, though not quite fo much as in
1719. The Europeans, however,' fhut up, and got abroad again at the fame
feafons as in the former year.

In 1742 they were confined much about the fame time as in 1729.

In 1 743 the diftemper raged with violence, though not quite to that degree
as in 17^3. The Europeans fhut up the nth of April, and opened about the
middle of July.

In I 744 the number of the fick being Inconfiderable, and the terror from the
diftemper much abated by being ufed to it, few of the Europeans flmt up. 1 he
pr-ogrefs of the difeafe was juft as above mentioued.

G g 2 cncrcafed,

228 Of the Plague m 1742, J7435 ^^^^ ^744-

encreafed, yet a few days longer continuance of that
weather greatly diminifhed the number of the fick;
Add to this, that the feafon wherein it always ceafes
at Aleppo^ is that in which the heats are the moft ex-
cefTive.

Though the natives, as well as feveral authors, have
a notion that the moon has fome influence over this
diftemper, yet experience no ways favoured this opi-
nion in the late plague at Aleppo.

Having, the diftemper once, does not prevent a fe-
cond feizure, numbers of people being alive when I
left Aleppo^ who have had it twice or oftener ; and I
have even feen inftances of the fame perfon's having had
the difeafe three feveral times in the fame feafon.

S E C T. II.

Of the Plague^ as it appeared ift Aleppo, in 1742,

1743, and 1744.

IT is no wonder that the very name o^ plague among
us fbould ftrike terror v/henever it is mentioned ;
for, beiides the numerous and terrible diftrelTes of the
whole body of the people during the rage of a pefti-
g lence.

Of the Plague in 1742, 1743, and 1744. 229

lence, and the fcenes of death and mifery which are
continually before our eyes, the diftemper itfelf is the
mofl: lamentable to which mankind are liable. The
torments of heat, thirft, and pain, frequently unite in
Ibme patients ; an unfpeakable languor and dejedlion
in others; the loathfome remains of the diftemper in
the painful and putrid ulcers, even in thofe who efcape;
the defertion of friends and attendants ; the want of
common neceflaries, and medical afTiftance, are all of
them circumftances which aggravate the miferies of the
fick, and contribute not a little towards augmenting
the general horror.

And as there is no difeafe incident to mankind that
is in its nature more terrible and deftrudlive, fo there
is^ none more difficult to defcribe. Its [fymptoms are
fcarceiy in all refpecls alike in any two perfons ; nay,
they even vary extremely in an hour in the fame fub-
jedl. The difeafe begins often v/ith the moft flatter-
ing appearances, and ends fatally in a few hours.
Some complain of a pain at their heart, are feized with
a vomiting and giddinefs, and die in a few minutes ;
while the moft alarming attacks fometimes end Ipeedily
in health and fecurity.

In general, however, a coldnefs or fhivering, with
ficknefs, vomiting large quantities of porraceous bile,

often

230 Of the Plague in 1742, 1743, and 1744.

often of a very offenfive fmell, pain in the back or
loins, an intenfe headach, uncommon giddinefs, and
a fudden lofs of flrength, were the firft complaints of
thofe who were feized with this diftemper ; and thefe
were ufually attended with great uneafinefs or anxiety
about the pit of the ftomach, and a fharp, fhooting pain
darting nto the parotid, axillary, or inguinal glands.

Thefe fymptoms were foon fucceeded by a violent
fever ; in which, while the patients complained of ex-
treme inward heat, their fkin felt but little hotter
than ufual. Sometimes this heat foon became general
and intenfe, at other times particular parts only were
affedted therewith ; and it feldom continued many
hours together alike, but remitted and returned with
conliderable, but unequal force feveral times in a
day. The face, in thefe exacerbations, became florid,
^nd was often changed from a deep fcarlet to a livid
colour, refembling that of a perfon almoft ftrangled-
Thefe appearances again would fuddenly give place
to a cadaverous palenefs. The eyes foon loft their
luftre, and acquired a kind of muddinefs; and the coun-
tenance of the greateft part of the fick was ghaftlj,
and confufed beyond defcription.

The pulfe, at the firft feizure, was very little diffe-
rent from its natural ftate, only fomewhat more quick

and

Of the Plague in 1742, 1743, and 1744. 231

and low. In a few hours it commonly encreafed in
quieknefs and ftrength ; but tliefe feldom continued
in the fame way an hour together, nay, fcarce many
minutes, but varied without any manifeft eorrefpon-
dence with the other febrile fymptoms, both as to
ftrength and quieknefs, incelTantly.

In thofe who complained of pains, either darting
into the parotids, the armpits, or groins, a fmall,
painful, hard, deep-feated tumor was difcovered by
the touch in the part, without any manifeft difcolora-
tion of the fkin. Such were the firft beginnings of the
peftilential buboes.

This was the common appearance of the diftemper
the firft day of the difeafe ; and thofe who had the
moft favourable efcape were often attacked at firft
with as alarming fymptoms as thofe who died in a few
hours ; for fometimes this febrile paroxyfm diflblved
in a few hours, and left the patient indeed languid,
and weakened to an extreme degree, but free from
other complaints, except the pain of the tumor above
mentioned ; which in many encreafed from this time,
both in fize, tenfion, and pain, during about twelve'
or fifteen days, when it commonly fuppurated, the pa-
tient, all the time, the firft day excepted, walking about
as ufual..

6 . But

232 Of the Plague hi 1742, 1743, and 1744.

But though many thus efcaped, yet feveral who were
feized in this manner, efpecially in the month of
March 1743, fuddenly dropped down dead, or at leaft
lived but a few hours ; the headach, vomiting, and
pain about the praecordia, encreafing every moment to
fuch a degree as to occafion immediate death, or fa-
tal convulfions. Few of thofe who died in this man-
ner had any appearance of fuch indurated tumors,
though generally the armpits, groins, or internal
parts of the arms . and thighs, were livid or black,
and the whole body was covered with confluent pe-
techise, interfperfed with livid puftules, elpecially after
death.

Thofe who iurvived the firfl: attack of the diftemper,
which was by much the greatefl part of the fick, in the
evening had a very confiderable encreafe of every fym-
ptom. The heat became exceflive, both internally and
externally ; and as the fick were by this time for the
moil part delirious, it was often with difficulty they
could be kept within doors. They were difpofed to
talk a great deal, but faultercd fo much in their fpeech
as fcarcely to be underflood ; the tongue having alfo
ihared in the debility that was evident m every other
part of the body.

In.

Of the Plague in 1)^42, 1743, and 1744. i-^i

In this ftate they continued during mofl part of the
night ; towards morning the violence of the heat, in-
quietude, and dehrium, abated ; a manifeft remiffion fuc-
ceeded; fome recovered their fenfes entirely, fome in great
part, and then complained much of intenfe head-ach,
or pain of the buboes, which laft would often increafe
fiiddenly, and decreafe as quickly, in the fpace of a few
hours. About one half of the fick about this time had
an additional complaint of a painful puftule, like an
angry, confluent pock, lurrounded by a circle of a deep
fcarlet tinge, which foon became livid, and was at-
tended with an intenfe burning pain ; from which cir-
cumftance, as well as from its fiery afpedt, it has pro-
bably obtained the name of carhmicle.

Thefe puftules broke out indifcriminately on all parts
of the body, and increafed from the fize of a large
pock to the extent of an inch and a half diameter, fome-
times, though rarely, to three inches.

The remiflion ot the fcverifh fymptoms was com-
monly but of very fhort continuance, the rigors, an-
xiety, uind delirium foon returning with greater violence,
with a frequent and ^xoviZ, fubfuhm tendinum. Thcfe
fymptoms, however, did not proceed with a regular in-
creafe during the day ; but the rigors and heats coming

H h and

2 34 Of the Plague in 1742, 1743, and 1744.

and going by turns, formed fhort, but alarming inter-
mifTions, each paroxyim furpaffing the former either in
violence or duration ; till, in the evening, the pulfe vi^as
fcarcely to be counted by reafon of its depreflion and
quicknefs. The patient grew comatofe, with a quick,
laborious, and interrupted refpiration.

The buboes, which fome hours before feemed mani-
feftly to increafe, now often fubfided, and almoft dif-
appeared, and the livid circle about the carbuncle be-
cam/2 black, refembUng a large efchar made by a
cauftic ; and livid or black fpots, of different dimen-
fions, about this time often appeared dilperfed over the
whole body.

Under thefe circumftanees, dreadful as they feemed,
fome hope of recovery flill remained ; for though many
died on the third day, yet feveral had a favourable
crifis by a profufe fweat : fome ftruggled under thefe
difficulties to the fifth day, a few to the feventh, and
here and there one even to the eleventh, before any
critical alteration appeared.

If the difeafe was not wholly carried of} by a copious

fweat on the third day, it was always confiderably

abated, and was in general totally removed by a fe-

cond, though lefs profufe one, by the fifth ; fo that no

1 fymptoms

Of the Plague in 1742, 1743, and 1744. 235

fymptoms of the difeafe were then left, weaknefs ex-
cepted, and the pain proceeding from the buboes and
carbuncles. And it may here be remarked, that all who
were attacked had buboes ; though, even in many that
recovered, they difcuffed without any manner of bad
confequences : but the carbuncles did not appear on
above one half of the fick, and often begun to digeft
before the critical fweat happened.

It is evident, from the account already given, that
nothing could be more difficult than to form a judg-
ment about the event of this difeafe, or be more juft
than what Morellus {d) obferves on a limilar occafion.
This author, after reciting feveral circumftances proving
the irregularity of its type, concludes, " That, in re-
" fped; to the plague, even our fenfes and reafon de-
" ceiveus, theaphorifms oi Hippocrates are erroneous;
" and Hippocrates himfelf, was he prefent, would Hke-
" wife be miftaken."

The tongue was in fome quite moift, and in all re-
fpedls like that of a perfon in health through the whole
courfe of the diftemper ; in others it was at firft white,
but foon became yellow, black, and covered with a dry,

{d) Unde fit ut ia pefte fallat nos fenfus, fallat ratio, fallant Hippocratis apho-
rilini; & ipfe, ut puto, in his falleretur Hippocrates. De Febre Pejiil. c. 5.

H h 2 roug'i

236 Of the Plagm in 1742,' 1743, a7id 1744.

rough fcurf or fur. Some had no thirfl: at all, and
could fcarcely be prevailed upon to take liquids in fuf-
ficient quantities. But the generality of the fick were
extremely thrifty, and drank with great eagernefs what-
ever they had given them, efpecially at particular times ;
for tlie intenfenefs of their thirft had irregular interval's,
and did not continue alike through the progrefs of the
diftemper, nor often correfpond with the violence of
the fever.

In moft patients the vomiting ceafed after the firft^
few hours, excepting when they overloaded their fto-
machs during this excefs af thirft j at which times the
vomitino; returned.

The urine was as little to be depended on as a fign
as any other circumftance, being fcarce alike at the
fame time of the difeafe in any two perfons ; and its
appearance varied no lefs in the fame patient every day.
In general, however, it was fomewhat of a deeper yel-
low than ufual in a perfon in health, and withovit fe-
diment.

Some had a diarrhaea during all the time, others were
coftive ; in moft the difcharges were natural. The
diftemper, however, feemed never to admit of a cri-
tical folution by either ftool or urine. Some {^mv had
haemorrhages from the nofe or uterus : and if thefe

happened

Of the Plague in 1742, 1743, a?jd 1744. 237

happened after the fecond day, a plentiful fweat, which
was mofl; commonly critical, foon followed; a circum-
ftance different from what ufually has happened in the
plague at other places.

Ih the years 1742 and 1743, the buboes often
appeared as foon as the patients were taken ill, in
ibme not till twelve hours after, and in a few not
till after two or three days : but, in 1744, fome
perceived the buboes a^ day or two before they had
any other iymptom of the difeafe. And during all the
time the plague raged at Aleppo^ none of the lick, were
without them, except fuch who died, fuddenly. In
general, the lick had but one, and they were more,
common in the axillary or inguinal glands than in the
parotids. Some few had even two.or three,, which were
not confined to one iide of the body. Their firfc appear-
ance, as hath been mentioned, was like a fmall indurated
gland', deeply feated ;■ in fome they were fixed, but more
frequently moveable,, and mofl commonly painful to
the touch. They would often increafe confiderably in
a few hours with intenfe pain, aud' would as fuddenly
fiibfide; and tlicfe changes would, frequently fucceed-
each other feveral times in twenty-four hours. Some,
times an exacerbation immediately following the de-
creafe of the bubo, would prompt one to imagine this
decrease to have been the caufe ; but this was not fo
6 conflantly

238 Of the Plague in 1742, 1743, and 1744.

conftantly the cafe as to induce me to think it was fo
in reahty.

The buboes, fo far as I could learn, never advanced
towards a regular maturation, till a critical fweat had
carried off the fever. In ten, twelve, or fifteen days
from the firft attack, they commonly fuppurated
with the ufual attendants of heat and pain. Some-
times, nay frequently, I have known them to dif-
appear foon after the critical fweat, and difcufs without
any detriment to the patient. At other times, when
grown pretty large, about the height of the difeafe, they
flink, and mortified without being attended with fatal
confequences : for as foon as the crifis was compleat,
the mortification flopped, and the efchar feparated gra-
dually, leaving a large deep ulcer, which healed with ■
out difficulty by the ufual methods.

The inguinal buboes were feldom fingle, there being
generally two, and in the fame groin. The fuperior
was the largeft, of a long figure, fomewhat refembling
a cucumber, lying obliquely, but lower than where the
venereal buboes appear, and it was this which com-
monly came to fuppuration. Once I met with a cafe
where an axillary bubo divided into two ; one part get-
ting under the pedtoral mufcle, the other finking
;; deeper

Of the Plague in 1742, -1743j and 1744. 239

deeper into the armpit : both of them grew painful
and inflamed ; but that in^ the armpit only fuppurated.

I met with no inflance of a bubo not followed or
preceded by the fever.

In refpedl to the carbuncles, it has already been
obferved, that they broke out on all parts of the body,
the mufcular and tendinous efpecially. From the fize
of a filver penny they often fpread themfelves fpeedily
to the extent of an inch and half, two inches, nay
fometimes three inches diameter, frequently penetrating
deep into the fubftance of the parts they attacked.
Their mofl common time of appearing was on the fe-
cond day of the difeafe. Their progrefs was very quick,
and not above one half of the lick had them. In fuch
as died, I was told, (for I faw none of thofe cafes my-
felf) that from the puftule iflued a quantity of ichorous
matter ; but the black circle remained hard and dry :
in the others the mortification ufually flopped on the
third day, and in a day or two more digefled, and be-
gan to feparate round the edges. The feparation of the
whole efchar was completed rather fooner than in fuch
as are made by a cauflic.

A few of the flck had puftules, which were filled
with well-concoded matter, without any livid or difco-

loured

240 Of the Plague in 1742, 1743, and \']\\,

loured circle about them : thefe, after a certain time,
dried up, and fell off, as it commonly happens in the
diftind: fmall-pox ; and as all the patients who had
this eruption recovered, it was coniidered as a favour-
able fymptom.

To enumerate all the various changes that hap-
pened, with the fudden and unexpected tranfitions
from extreme danger to great fafety, would be tedious,
and little inflrudlive. Such, however, were the ge-
neral outlines of the diftemper, and the moft ufual
fymptoms ; which though they by no means furnifh
one with the neceffary helps to form a certain progno-
ftic, yet fome hints may from thence be deduced for
eftablifhing a rational, and perhaps a fuccefsful prac-
tice.

Upon conftdering, however, the feveral circumflan-
ces attending this fatal diftemper, the various fliapes it
allumes, the fudden tranfitions from one appearance to
another, the precipitate advances to its height, and the
danger which the phyfician incurs in vifiting the fick,
the wonder ceafes, that we meet with in authors fo va-
rious and contradiftory accounts of the proper methods
for treating it. Some plead for evacuations, others
decry them with vehemence : if we allow, that diffe-
rence of climates, different conftitutions of the air in

the

Of the Plague in 1742, 1743, and 1744. 241

the fame climate, and perhaps fome variety even in the
plague itfelf, might lead praditioners to judge not al-
ways aHke concerning it ; yet it is not fo eafy to recon-
cile the jarring opinions of thofe who have pradifed at the
fame time, and in the fame place, in refped to this ef-
fential part of management : and as in a difeafe, u'herein
reafon is often perplexed, and experience itfelf falla-
cious, one would chufe to rely much on proper autho-
rity, it is greatly to be lamented, that nature has not
been more, and opinion lefs, attended to. As the
plague has fo often vifited that country, one might
reafonably have expe£ted among the natives fome
veftiges of unbiaffed obfervation, and attempts at leaft
towards a proper method of cure ; but, fo far as I have
hitherto been able to difcover, no traces of any thing fa-
tisfadlory are to be met with among them. The Turks
have lefs faith in medicine for the cure of this difeafe
than of any other, believing it to be a curfe inflicted
by God Almighty for the fins of the people ; and
as the chief of thofe who pradife phyfic are either
Chriftians or Jews, and not fo ftrongly prepoffef-
fed with the doftrine of predeftinaticn, confequently
afraid of catching the diftemper, they rather endea-
vour to confirm the Twks in their falfe notions, left
they fhould be forced to vifit the fick. Hence it fol-
lows, that the greateft part of thofe who are feized
with the plague, either are left to ftruggle with the

I i violence

242 Of the Plague in 1742, 1743, and 1744.

violence of the diforder without any alHftance, or mufc
fubmit to the direction of the meaneft and mofi: igno-
rant of mankind. The pradlice which feems to pre-
vail moft generally amongft them, is to bleed all who
apply to them, and in every ftage of the difeafe \ after
which they endeavour to promote fweat by a few
grains of bezoar, in the fimple diftilled water of fcor-
zonera ; which is the medicine they chiefly confide in,
fuch is the ilender acquaintance they have yet acquired
in the materia medica.

From the moft impartial and attentive obfervation i
could make, it feemed to me, that very plentiful bleed-
ing at the firft appearance of the difeafe was of great
fervice ; but after the firft day was always preju-
dicial.

Vomiting was alfo of the utmoft confequence at the
beginning : warm water was commonly fufficient to
procure it, as the fick had generally a propenfity to this
difcharge. If a ftimulus was required, a fmall dofe of
ipecacuanha ov fal vitrioli was all that was neceffary for
moft patients.

Though purging with the violent c^athartics is juftly
condemned ; yet an emollient glyfter, or even a gentle
laxative with manna and crem, tarta7\ when the pa-
tient was coftive, and the head much affedled, was

not

Of the Plague in 1742, 1743, and 1744. 243

not only fafe, but often of great fervice ; and, when the
fymptoms were not violent, I have frequently given a
gentle purge of infuf. fen?i(E^ mann. &' crem. tartar.
the fecond day of the difeafe with fuccefs. It may
appear ftrange; but it is a fa 61 confirmed to me by
many inflances, that a purgative of this kind, given
after the critical fweat, was the mofi: effe(!T:ual means
to bring the buboes to fuppuration.

The natural crifis of the difeafe was always by fweat ;
and, when the fame evacuation could be procured by
art, it was alfo of fervice ; but there were two great in-
conveniences attending attempts of this kind on the
firfl day. One was, that the common medicines in
the ufual dofes for this purpofe, if they failed of pro-
curing the defired diaphoBefis, threw the patient into
a flame, and greatly augmented all the fymptoms : the
other inconvenience was, that though we fucceeded in
raifmg a fweat, it was requifite to continue it a much
longer time than moft of the people in that country
could be perfuaded to endure ; and, if checked, it was
of bad confequence, either increafing all the fymptoms,
or, what was often the cafe, bringing on a diarrlioea, ;
which though at firft it feemed to relieve, yet gene-
rally proved fatal in the end.

The cordial and diaphoretic medicines found to
be moft efficacious were, Rad, co?itrayerv. Vak~

I i 2 hrian.

244 Of the Plague in 174-2^ 1743, ^^^ I744'

rian. Jyl'veji. Croc. Anglic, Pulv. contrayerv, com'p.
Pharm. Rdin. and Tl^eriac-Androm. or Diafcord, when
a diarrhoea attended. Anodynes alfo greatly afTifted the
other medicines in their operations ; but thofe of the
gentler kind, as^r. diacod. feemed to agree better with
the lick, than opium.

I made an attempt to try the efFeds of the cortex in
this diftemper ; but a popular clamour being raifed
againft that medicine, I thought it moft prudent to
delifl-, as I was convinced that my youth, and the fhort
time I had then refided in the place, wonld render any
efforts I could make to get the better of it ineffec-
tual. No fair trial was made of the rad. ferpentar.
Virgin, becaufe few of the natives would take it on
account of its bitternefs : for whoever would obtain
a ready compliance with his orders in that country,
mufl as feldom as poflible offend their palates with
unpleafant remedies ; becaufe whatever may be the
confcquence to thcmfelves, they will often chufe to in-
cur diftant, though great rifks, father than fubmit to
p^efent inconveniences. Small dofes repeated every
four hours, was the moft effectual method of giving
thefe medicines, and plenty of diluent liquors, acidu-
lated with fpirit of vitriol, not only affifted in pro-
moting a diaphorefis, but was of the utmoft confe-
quence in moderating the fever, which the cordials and

diaphoretics were otherwife apt to increafe.

Nitrous

Of the Plague in 1 J ^2 i 1743, ^W I744'. 245;

, Nitrous medicines in this difeafe neither were at-
tended with their ufual fuccefs in allaying heat, nor
could the fick in general bear the common dofes with-
out a fenfible increafe of languor and deje6tion, or
danger of bringing on a diarrhoea.

The following method of treating the flck I found,
the moft fuccefsful upon repeated trials.

As fbon as the patient was feized, from 10 to 20
ounces of blood, according to the prefent condition of
the fick, or violence of the fymptoms, were ordered to
be taken from the arm. Seldom more than a pound
however was taken from any ; that being a quantity
greatly exceeding what they ufually lofe at once in any
difeafe.

After bleeding, if the naufea was confiderable, they
were ordered to drink plentifully of warm water, (which
was prefently brought up again, and with it a quantity
of bile), and this operation to be repeated feveral times..
If the naufea was not fufficient, which was but feldom
the cafe, a fmall dofe of rad. ipecacuan. or fal vitriol,
was given to promote the vomiting. It appeared from
experience of fuch confequence that thofe evacuations
fliould be made early, that moft of my acquaintance
4 had.

246 Of the Plague in 1742, 1:743, and 1744.

had previous diredlions to fet about them immediately,
in cafe any perfon fhould be infedled in their family.

A gentle anodyne was given after vomiting, or, if
that did not fettle their ftomachs, Riverius's faline
draught, with an ounce of diacodium^ or 1 5 drops of
laudanu?n.

Thefe evacuations being premifed, fmall dofes of
the cordial and diaphoretic medicines, above men-
tioned, joined with a very fmall proportion of iiitr.
Jlibiat. were given every four hours ; and the fick
were encouraged to drink liberally of a decod:ion of
fcorzonera roots and barley, or even of fpring
water, but always tepid, if they could be perfuaded
to drink it fo, and acidulated with as much fp.
vitriolic as to make it agreeable. A certain proportion
of this fpirit, with fyrup of violets, made it more grate-
ful both to the eye and the palate, and was no fmall
inducement to them to drink the necelTary quantity.

In the winter, the iick were ordered to be removed
into a larger and more airy room, than they were accuf-
tomed to lleep in at that feafon ; and the air to be
both warmed and corrected by a moderate fire. In
the fummer, all the doors and windows were allowed
to be opened, excepting that which was immediately

oppofite
3

Of the Plague in 1742, 1743, and 17^4.. 247

oppofite to the patient's bed ; and many of them would
not even bear that reftridion, but would have all open
in the day time, and often in the night lay upon the
houfe top. Their covering was the fame as in health.

A moderate cordial of fome of the fimple waters,
with a little TinS^. croa\ 'Tinci. Valerian^ fyh. Co7ifeSi.
alkenn. well acidulated withy^. vitriolic and commonly
fweetened with fyrup of white poppies, was allowed
them when faint or uneafy, and they expreffed great
fatisfadion upon taking this mixture. For children^
this alone, with plenty of acidulated liquors, was what
I chiefly ufed, and with good fuccefs.

When the iick could be perfuaded to fubmit to
the above regimen, a fweat often broke out the
fecond or beginning of the third day, when they
were covered up, and the fweat was encouraged fo long
as they could bear it.

Whether it proceeded from the careleffnefs of the at-
tendants, in giving way to the impatience of the flck,
and fo not encouraging the fweat fo long as it ought to
have been, or from the nature of the difeafe, I know
not, but certain it is, that this firft fweat, particularly
if it happened on the fecond day, though it greatly
relieved the patient, yet did not entirely carry off

the

^4^ Of the Plague in I JA^.!^ '743? cind ij^^.

the fever. A continuance of the fame medicines,
in fomewhat larger dofes, generally enabled na-
ture to throw off every fubfequent exacerbation by a
plentiful fweat, till a compleat crifis was obtained.

When the fweat was fufficient, and had greatly miti-
gated the fymptoms, notwithftanding fome degree of
fever ftill remained, a mild cathartic was given the next
morning, the other medicines were continued during its
operation, and an anodyne was ordered early in the
evening.

When an encreafe of the fymptoms feemed to be the
confequence of a fudden fniking of the buboes, which
fometimes happened on the fecond or third day, a
blifter applied juft below the bubo was of fervice.

Upon the firft appearance of a coma, or debility in
the tongue, a blifter was applied to the head,
and to the other ufual parts, as neceffity required. Some
patients, who had been deemed paft recovery, having
ftruggled through the difeafe, and apparently by the
ufe of blifters, at length brought them into credit, and
induced the natives to fubmit, with lefs reludance, to
a practice which they would otherwife have abhorred.
Stimulating cataplafms of one part garlic, and two parts
crum of bread, v/ith the addition of a little vinegar,
applied to the foles of the feet, were of great fervice in

this

Of the Plague in 1742, 1743, ^W 1744- 249

this cafe ; and if the patient ti^as coftive, emollient
laxative glyfters were injeded. The dofe of the alexi-
pharmics was encreafed, and diluting acidulated li-
quors given often in fmall quantities.

Suppurating cataplafms were fometimes applied to
the buboes, but as they were kept on with diffi-
culty, the Empl. Diachyl. cum Gum. was more
generally ufed ; and when a ftimulus was required, a
few cantharides, or a little euphorbium was added.
In moft of the fick, they were left to open of them-
felves, on account of the dread the natives have of the
lancet or cauftic, and the want fometimes of proper
perfons to apply them : and indeed, by what I ob-
ferved, none fuffcred from the long delay in opening
them, farther than the ufual inconveniences attend-
ing other tumors thus left to themfelves ; and they
never required any method different from the common
to heal them.

When the buboes mortified, they were treated as the
carbuncles ; and though, upon the feparation of the
mortified parts, the ulcers were often large and deep,
yet they healed very foon.

Sometimes the carbuncles were fcarifi^ed, but
oftener not : the dreffings that agreed beft with them,

K k were

250 Method ufed by the Europeans for their

were Ung. Bajilic. FL^j. with a fmall proportion of 01.
Terebinthince^ and fometimes T'inB. Myrrh, applying
over all an emollient cataplafm ; and after the indu-
rated black parts were fepara.ted, they foon healed,
without any particular accidents.

SECT. III.

Of the method ufed by the Europeans for their frefer-
vation from the Plague.

N'Ext to the protedion of Divine Providence, the
means that the Europeans at Aleppo depend
upon for their prefervation during the time of the
plague, are either retiring from the city, or flrutting
up at home, in fuch a manner as effeftually to pre-
vent all communication with either perfons or goods
capable of conveying the infedion. The firft method
was formerly the common pra6lice of the Englip^
when the nature of their bufinefs was fuch as allowed
them to retire early in the feafon, and their number
fo confiderable, that they encamped upon the Bylan
mountains, without any danger from the Curds [a) : fo
that, by keeping the perfon employed to go to the vil-

(n) Curds, or, as the Englifh commonly call them, Gotirdeens, are a race of
hardy, robuft people, who inhabit mod of the mountains Amanus, and live
chiefly by plunder, making excurfions for this purpofe into the neighbouring
plains, and retVing to the mountains again whenever any force is fent againft
ihem.

Prefervation from the Plague. 251

lage to market at a proper diftance, and ufing the necef-
fary precautions in receiving provifions, ^c. if the plague
{hould be there, they were quite fecure, and had at the
feme time an opportunity of amufing themfelves by ri-
ding, fhooting, and other country-recreations, and en-
joying the cool air and verdure among thofe mountains ;
a pleafure at other times furpafTmg moft others in that
warm climate, though now barely fufficient to allay the
melancholy reflexions fo natural on this occaflon. At pre-
fent, however, as the nature of their bufmefs is fuch as
prevents their retiring early, their number fmall, and
the Curds more troublefome than heretofore, fo that
they cannot well encamp upon the mountains, a re-
tirement from the place is attended with confiderable
inconveniences ; for it is next to impoflible, when the
feafon is advanced, but one or other of the fervants who
mull unavoidably be hired to carry baggage, Wc. on
the road, (for all forts of neceflaries mufl be carried along
with one in this country, even provilions and bedding)
either has the diltemper in his own family, or at beft
has daily intercourfe with numbers in that condition.
And though, by carrying tents, the danger of fleeping
in an infedled village may be avoided ; yet it may ne-
verthelefs happen to be at the very place where the
retirement has been intended, it being, I believe, very
rare that it rages at Aleppo without likewife affefting
moft other places within a few days journey round it,

K k 2 and

252 Methods iifed by the Europeans for their

and full as rare that the people will confefs its being
amongft them.

Shutting up at home is attended with none of thefe
inconveniences, and, when conduced in the proper
manner, its falutary effects are found by experience to
be fuch, that perfons in this fituation remain without
dano-er in the middle of a city where the plague rages
with the orreateft \dolence ; a circumftance fo evident,

CD

that all the Chiijlians and Jews who can afford it follow
tlie example of the Fra?iks in this refpe6l. And though
the Turks cannot, on account of their religion, do it
avowedly [b) ; yet fuch of them as have been any ways
converfant with the Europeans^ and are not mere bigots,
either keep at home, on pretence of being indifpofed,
or retire to fome garden for change of air, if their af-
fairs will not admit of their going abroad to fome
diftant place, v^here they imagine the difeafe does not
reach. A journey to Mecca^ on pretence of devotion,
is their mofl: common expedient.

It having been mentioned, that the Europeans are
not fo fubjecl: to the epidemic difeafes of that country
as the natives, it is necclTary to inform the reader, that
experience confirms their being liable to the plague,

{b) It is lawful for them to abflain from going into an infefted city, but not to
flyfroai one infefle J whilt they are in it.

fome

Prefer'vation from the Plague. 253

fome of them having generally been infefted when the
diftemper raged In the place, either before they fhut
up, or after they came abroad. It may alfo be proper
to add, that their fervants, who are natives, and are a
much greater number than the Europea?is, enjoy the
fame benefit from fhutting up.

While the number of the fick is inconfiderable, as
is commonly the cafe during the winter, the Europeans
content themfelves with ufmg the following precau-
tions, viz. to have no more intercourfe with the natives
than what they are neceffarily obliged to by their buH-
nefs ; to keep their fervants at home, if pofTible, which
however is not eafily accomplifhed ; not to make ule
of a common barber, if it can be avoided ; and to care-
fullv enquire concerning the health of thofe who wafh
their linen, chuling for that office fuch as are not em-
ployed by the natives. This does not however prevent
their vifiting each other, and enjoying their ufual re-
creations abroad in the country..

During this time it is ufual for the natives to make
ufe of all the arguments in their power to perfuade the,
Europeans^ that either the whole of the reports con-
cerning the diftemper are falfe, or, when this cannot be
accomplifhed,. that the little which had appeared is now
quite over ; which laft pretence, however untrue, or in-
deed
9

2 54 Methods ufed by the Europeans /or their

deed vain to hope for, many are willing to be deceived
by, till either fome Europea?t., their dependants, or
others under their immediate infpedion, being in-
fedled, caufes a general confternation, and occafions
their {hutting up with all expedition. Such of the
Fj'ajiks as ad with the moft prudence not only ufe the
precautions already mentioned, but alfo make the pro-
per difpofitions for fhutting up, fo as to be ready to do
it upon the firft vifible increafe of the diftemper, which
they Icok upon as unavoidable in the fpring, and lay
their account with being confined till July. The
progrefs of the difeafe is fo quick, that the diffe-
rence between fiich as fhut up early, and thofe that
brave it out to the laft, is feldom more than a few
days.

As it would be difagreeable for a fingle perfon to be
confined by himfelf, they generally divide into fmall
parties, and fhut up in fuch houfes as are moft fpacious
and convenient. It is an advantage to be in one that
has no communication, by way of the terrace, with
any other ; for though when the diftemper is not fre-
quent, going over the houfe-top to vifit fuch other of
their friends as are alfo fhut up, is fometimes pradifed,
yetjwhen the plague rages much, it is reckoned fafeftnot to
truft to any one, left they fhould be guilty of irregulari-
ties J and when fuch communications are open, it is im-

poftible

Prefervation from the Plague. 255

pofUble to be fure of keeping the fervaiits in order. Pro-
vifion is made, as has been already mentioned, for a
confinement till July ; for, after the doors are once
fhut, nothing is admitted |)ut letters, and what is ab-
folutely neceffary for the table, and thefe too with the
precautions which fhall be mentioned. One thing,
though it may feem trifling, conduces not a little to
their eafe, and that is, to have one perfon that can
{have ; for a long beard is extremely difagreeable in
hot weather. Cats, being great ramblers, are looked
upon as dangerous animals at fuch times ; and there-
fore the Europeans either confine theirs at home, or
fend them to be taken care of by fome of their de-
pendants, in a diftant part of the city ; and no quar-
ter is fhewn to any ftrange cats that fhall happen to
be feen within their bounds, but fuch are imme-
diately fhot, and thrown into the ftreet by the help
of a pair of tongs.

This difpofition being made, and the diftemper fo far
advanced that it is thought imprudent to go abroad
any longer, the flreet-door is locked, and, for the
greater fecurity, fealed up ; and, if there are any win-
dows, or paflages of any kind below flairs, through
which the fervants might poilibly receive any thing from
without, they are fecured alfo ; even the fmail hole cut
in the door tlirough whicji the water, for the fervice of

ths

256 Methods ufed by /f/;^ Europeans for their

the family is conveyed, has a lock and key, fo that it is.
never opened, but w^hen the Sacka (or 'vyater^carrier)
comes, and then ufually one of the Europeans attends ;
for thefe water-carriers, beins of the fame race with the
fervantSj are the moft likely to bring them fuch things
as they may defii'e. A window above flairs is next
allotted, through which the neceilary provifions, ^c.
are to be received ; and fuch an one is ufually chofe
as looks into the moft private part of the Khane, or
ftreet, to avoid drawing together a concourfe of idle
paflengers, which the novelty of the fight would natu-
rally do : but the more this window is expofed to
the eyes of the family within, the better it is for
preventing irregularities from fervants. The neceffary
apparatus for this window, confifts of a rope, which,
with the addition of a few yards of an iron chain, and a
hook to the lower end, reaches within two or three
feet of the ground ; an iron or copper pail, which is
hung on the hook of the chain, and let down for con-
veying things to or from a perfon below, whom they
hire on purpofe, and is all day in waiting to bring the
neceffary provilions, carry meftages, &'c. A quantity
of vinegar, a pail of water, a long reed fplit at one end
for conveying letters, and fome brimftone to fmoke
them with, as alfo a pair of tongs for taking out the
provilions. Meat, poultry (which lafl: muft be well
picked} and every thing elfe that will allow of it, is

dipped

Prefervation fro7r^the Plague, 257

dipped in water, mixed with a fmall proportion of vi-
negar, and hung up fome little time before it is touched.
Bread, which will admit of nothing of that nature, is
expofed to the air for fome hours before it is handled ;
and letters or other papers, are fprinkled with vinegar
and fmoked with fulphur ; for which purpofe, if it
was a more general practice to have a box fo contrived,
as to impregnate the papers more throughly with the
fumes of that mineral, it might perhaps be more fafe.
Some few, in place of fulphur, fmoke their letters
with the following, which is what is commonly ufed
in the Lazaretto at Malta [a).

The impatience under confinement, with the me-
lancholy occafion of it, the apprehenfion that fome of
the company may have received the infedlion, though
it may not as yet have appeared, the finging before the

(aj Take of Sulphur, fix pounds.
Orpiment.
Crude Antimony.
Litharge.
Cummin feeds.
Euphorbium.
Black pepper.

Ginger, of each four pounds.
Affa foetida.
Cinnabar.

Sal Armoniac, of each three pounds.
Arfenic, one pound.

Reduce thefe into a powder, to which add :

of Rafpings of pine wood, fix pounds.
Bran, fifty pounds.

L 1 corps

258 Method tifed by the Europeans for their

corps in the day, and the fhrieking of the women for the
dead, both day and night, all contribute to make the
firft week's confinement very difagreeable. Cuftom,
however, foon renders thofe things fo familiar, as to
lofe much of their force ; and the company falling
into various ways of amufing themfelves, in a very little
time, though they cannot help feeling for the unhappy
fufFerers, yet the only uneafinefs moft people exprefs,
on their own account, is from a want of liberty to go
abroad ; this want, they endeavour to fupply by an
evening's walk upon the houfe-top, from whence as
many of the European houfes are but at a fmall dif-
tance from each other, they enjoy the converfation of
fome of their friends, though too far off for fecrecy.

Though the fhutting up of the Europea?ts and many
Chriftians, as alfo the retirement of fome Turks, as has
been already mentioned, in a great meafure puts a flop
to trade while the diflemper rages violently, yet the
markets are all open, and as great plenty of provifions,
and every thing elfe to be had as at any other time :
the ftreets too, though not fo much crouded, yet are
ft ill pretty full of people ; the generality of the Ttirks
vifit the Tick, and attend their funerals, in the fame
manner as at other times ; and though the Chrijiiajis
and Jews do not, except on very emergent occafions,.
vifit their fick friends, and very few beiides a prieft,

and

Prefervation frmn the Plague. 259

and thofe who carry the bier, attend the funerals, yet
there is no want of fervants and relations, to do the
neceffary offices about the {ick, the fame as if it was
any common diftemper.

As foon as the number of the fick begins to decline,
the fame caufes that prevented fome from fhutting up
early, together with a natural defire that all have for
liberty, generally induces feveral to get abroad too foon.
The difference between the firft and the laft, in open-
ing as in fhutting up, feldom exceeds a few days ; and
yet this, however, makes a very confiderable one in the
rifk, for both the increafe and decreafe of the/iiflem-
per, are very fudden.

The firfl ftep upon opening, is ufually to ride
abroad ; and though it is at a feafon wherein there is
not the leaft verdure, except in the gardens, yet, after
fo long a confinement, the fight of the open country
affords no fmall pleafure. Care is taken, while the
gentlemen are abroad, to prevent the fervants in the
family from having intercourfe with any body ; and,
after the doors are opened, the fame precautions are
uied for a week or two, as before fhutting up.

The above precautions, are all that the Eiifopeafis
commonly pradlife ; but by myfelf, and fuch of the

L 1 2 natives,

260 - Methods ufed by the'E\\xoTpcAi\8 for their

natives, who being obliged to be amongft the fick,
afked my advice, the following rules were obferved,
which, though nothing new, I have taken the liberty
to infert ; as they have hitherto proved fuccefsful,
and many of them may be ufeful to die Europeans,
while their bufinefs obliges them to go abroad : to
this, however, it is but juftice to add, that the
trials were not many, and that there were fome
few perfons who were equally in the way of the
difeafe, without being infeAed, though they ufed no
precautions at all. The rules laid down were thele :

Never to go abroad in the morning fafting.

To avoid, as much as poflible, all excefles, violent
paflions, or large evacuations, but not to live more
abftemioufly, either with regard to eating or drinking,
than ufual : perhaps one or two glafles of good wine
more than cuftomary, might rather be beneficial than
otherwife ; an<l a plentiful ufe of acid liquors, fuch as
a very weak four punch in the fummer, is not only
agreeable but ufeful.

While in the fick perfon's chamber, pa/fing a
eorpfe, or near any thing infected, not to fwallow the
faHva, and to breathe, in the natural way through a

handkerchief

Prefervatio7i from the Plague, 261

handkerchief or fpunge, wetted either with plain vi-
negar, or fuch as had rue infufed in it.

When examining the pulfe, and other circumftances
that require being very nigh the iick, to hold the breath,
as much as poflible, and, as foon as retired from the
chamber, to wafh the mouth, face, and hands with
vinegar..

Upon returning home, to put on other cloaths,,
and expofe fuch as had been wore to the air ; perhaps
it might alfo be of fervice to fmoke them with fulphur,
but this was not praAifed. At fuch times alfo, it is
proper once more to wafli the rr <-h, face, and hands
with vinegar^

As to medicine, a large dofe of the extradl of the.
bark, with a draught of wine and water, well acidu-
lated with elixir of vitriol, taken twice a day, were all
that were ufed. For fuch as can take the bark in a
liquid form, a ftrong decodtion of it may anfwer the
purpofe as effediually.

C H A. P..

CHAP. IV.
Of the M AL d' ALEPPO.

A Cutaneous difeafe, thought by fbme to be pecu-
liar to this place, has acquired the name of
// 7nal d'AleppOy or Aleppo evil^ among the Europeans,..
The natives call it Habt il fenne, or Botch of a year,
from the fuppofed time of its duration. In Turkijh,
Haleb Choban^ or the Aleppo ulcer. This difeafe is not,
however, peculiar to this place, being almoft as com-
mon at Antabf and all the other villages on the banks
of the rivers Sejour and Coick, as at this place ; which
favours the opinion of its being occafioned by the water.

The natives reckon but two fpecies of this diforder,
and diftinguifh them by the names of male and female ;
but there is a third kind of cutaneous diftemper, which,
though it is commonly afcribed to the bite or fting of
a common millepedes, or wood-loufe, feems to me to
be altogether of the fame nature, though milder in
degree.

What they call the rhale diftemper, makes its ap-
pearance in the form of a fmall, red, hard

tuberck

Of the Mai d' Aleppo, 263

tubercle or pimple, which commonly paffes fome weeks
uaregarded, as it gives no manner of uneafinefs : after-
wards it begins to encreafe, and ufually comes to the
fize of an E^tglijh fixpence, which, after fome months,
begins to be fcurfy on the top ; by degrees the little
matter that oozes out of it, forms into a thick crufty
fcab ; which, unlefs it is picked off, or otherwife dif-
turbed, remains upon it till the parts underneath be-
ing healed, it falls off, and leaves but a very fmall
mark. The whole of its duration is feldom above
eight months.

What is called the female fpecies begins like the
former ; but after a month or two it becomes fome-
what painful, encreafes often to double the extent
of the male, difcharges a good deal of the icho-
rous matter from under the fcab, and by degrees comes
to have the appearance of an indigefted fcorbutic ulcer,
with a livid circle round it ; but feenis to be no deeper
than the tu7iica cellidofa. In this condition it remains
for feveral months, and is in general about a year from
its firft appearance before it is cured : but this is not a
thing certain, many getting well fome months fooner,
while others remain feveral months longer. After it
i§ cicatrifed, it leaves an ugly fear, which remains
thro' life, and for many months has a livid colour. When
they are not irritated, they feldom give much pain.

The

264 Of the Mai d'Aleppc.

The third kind of Mal^ which they call the pinch
of a millepedes, begins like the two others, but fel-
dom grows larger than about twice the fize of a large
pin's head, and never changes its appearance, remaining
a fmall tubercle for many months, without any pain,
after which, it ufually throws off a few fcurfy fcales and
difappears ; but fome remain a much longer time.

It affeds the natives when they are children, and
generally appears in the face, though they alfo have
fome on their extremities ; for moft of them have two,
three, or fometimes more, it being rare that they have
but one. In ftrangers, it commonly appears fome
months after their arrival ; and they have them not fb
frequently on the face as the natives : very few efcape
having them, but they feldom affe6t the fame perfon
above once ; dogs and cats are as fubje<5t to the dif-
eafe as men ; it commonly breaks out upon the nofe
of thefe creatures.

In refpedl to the cure, like the tooth-ach, or ague
with us, every one pretends to an infallible remedy for
them ; but the many beautiful faces, daily impaired
by the difeafe, are too evident proofs of their ill fuc-
cefs : and in truth, from what I have obferved, it is

infinitely

Of the Mai cC Aleppo. 265

infinitely better to apply nothing, than any of the
numberlefs medicines they make ufe of.

Of feveral applications that I made trial of upon
myfelf and fome others, I found the mercurial plaifter
the moft efficacious ; the prefcription was the fame as
the Rmplajirum commune cufn mercurio, with a fmaller
proportion of mercury, and a little larger of Balf,
fulphur.

If this was applied at the beginning, it often pre-
vented their making any farther progrefs ; if they had
begun to run, it hindered them from increafing fo
much as they would otherwife have done, and gene-
rally cured them before their ufual time. This is to
be underftood of that called the female ; for the male,
as well as the third kind, feldom require any medi-
cinal application.

The reader, it is hoped, is now no longer a llranger
to moft of the particulars relating to Aleppo ; but I
cannot conclude thefe fheets, without rendering juftice
to their natural patrons, the gentlemen of the Britijh
fadiory there, who ftill maintain that excellent cha-
rafter, for which they have been long celebrated, of
mitigating the inconveniences that neceiTarily attend
their refidence in that city, by the perfed harmony in

M m which

266 Of the Mai cC Aleppo.

which they Uve, and improving every circumftance of
advantage by the fame focial quality, of which, having
been fo long witnefs, and in which being fo much
a partaker, I make no doubt, the public will receive
with candor, this teftimony which gratitude requires.

INDEX.

I N D E X.

A.

^^/i?, how regulated in the plague, page 246.

-^i^ Aleppo^ its buildings inferior to no Turkidi city, r. Its fituation^
ibid. 2, and extent 2. Its buildings dcfcribed, 2 — 5. Streets,
markets, and other conveniencies, 5, 6. Water and fuel, 7. Adjacent
country, 8. Latitude and longitude, 9, 10. Seafons, 12, 13. Rains
and winds, 14, 15. Soil, culture, and produce, 15, 16, 17. Different
religions profefled there, 77, 119. Number of inhabitants, yj. Lan^
guages, 78. Perfons of diflferent fexes defcribed, ibid. 79. Drefs, 79,
100, loi. Difpofitions, ibid. 80. Food, 80, 81. Ceremonies and
entertainments of vifits, 82,83. Bagnios, 84 — 88. Manner of travel-
ling, 89. Time and manner of fleeping, ibid. 90. Amufements or
diverfions, 91, 92, 93. Mufic and mufical inftruments of various kinds,
9i — 9^' Education and literature, 96, 97, Phyfic and phyficians, 98,
99, 100. Manner of painting their beards, eye-lids, »nd other parts of
the body, 102, 103. Ornaments of their women, ibid. 104. Military
and civil government, 120, i2i. Capital and other punifhments, 121^
122. Different feds of chriflians, yj^ 123.

Animals about Aleppo ufed for food, an account of, 50 — ^6. For burden,
56, S7'> S^' Noxious, i^c. 59 — 63.

Anodynes, ufed in the plague, 246.

Antelopes, two kinds about Aleppo, defcribed, 54. How caught by fal-
cons, 67.

Apoplexies at Aleppo commonly end in hemiplegias, 220. Several die fud-
denly of them, 223.

Arab Camel, an account of, ^y.

— — Horfes, valued for their lleetnefs, 58.

Arabia Deferta, dticnhtd, 11.

Armenians, their lents, and how kept, 124.

y?/}, two kinds of in Syj?ia, 58. Both of confiderable ufc there, »^;W.

AJirology, much regarded by the Turks, 96,

M m e Bagnios

INDEX.

B.

Bagnios of Aleppo defcrlbed, 84, 85. How u fed by the men, 85, 86;

and by the women, 87,88. Entertainments of, 87.
Baraba7i, a large falcon ufed for hawking at Aleppo, 6y.
Bazar. See market.

Beards, the method of dying them ufed by the Turks, 102.
Beef, not much ufed by the Turks or Jews at Aleppo, 50. Why beft

there in the fummer, ibid.
Bees, cultivated about Aleppo, 62.
Birds about Aleppo at different feafons, 64 — 72. The locuft bird de-

fcribed, 70.
Bittern, a remarkable fort of, defcribed, 71,72.
Black-fiJJj, very plentiful at Aleppo, y^- -^ defcription of, ibid. 74.
Bleeding, fcarce ever performed on children at Aleppo, 201. What ufed

in place of it, ibid. Its ufe in the plague, 242, 245.
Blijlering, the people at Aleppo very averfe to, 201, 248. Its ufe in the

plague, 248^
Buboes, Peftilential, their firft appearance, progrefs, and cure, 231, 234,

237. 238, 248, 249.
Buffaloes, plenty of in Syria, 51 : but few near Aleppo, ibid.
Btiffcons, ufed in all merry-makings by the Turks, 23.
Buildings at Aleppo defcribed, 2, 3, 4, 5. Materials for, fome account

of, 48, 49 Are carried on with great eafe and dexterity, 49.
Burgle, a food at Aleppo, defcribed, 123.
Butler, how fupplied at Aleppo, c^^. Commonly bad, ibid.

.1 y>^-^"»-^ , - n'

■P^--^'

c.

Cc.meh, of great ufe in Syria, i^d. Four forts defcribed, ibid. 57.

Carbuncles in the p'ague defcribed, 233, 239. Method of cure, 249, 250.

Cats, dangerous animals m the time of a plague, 255.

Cheattx at Aleppo, who 132.

Chincongh, a difeafe frequent among children, 217. [Its fymptoms and

cure, 20T, 217.
Cbingrnos, a race-of people among the Turks, defcribed, 104. Bring the

plague to Aleppo, 191.
Chrijiians, number of at Aleppo, 77. Different fefls, ibid„ Manner of

living, 123, 1:4, 125. Of burying and mourning, 130.
Coaches, none ufed at Aleppo, 89.

Coffee, in high efteem at Aleppo, 21. Ceremonies of at a vifit, ibid^
Coffee-houfes frequented only by the vulgar at Akppo, 91.
Coic river near Aleppo dilcribed, 8, 9.
Colleges, a number of infignificant ones at Aleppo, ^G, 97.

4 Cordials

INDEX.

Cordials and diaphoretic medicines, the mod efficacious in the plague, 243,

244, 246.
Cstton produced in Syria, 18.

Courfing, in great efteem among the people of fafhion at Aleppo, Gj.
Crabs, abundance of at Aleppo, 77,
Curds, a race of people in Syria, fome account of them, 250.

D.

Bancing, not efteemed a fafhionable accomplifliment among the Turks, 92.

Diarrh<eas and Dyfenteries, frequent at Aleppo, 192, 200, 203. Their
fymptoms and cure, 192. In the plague, 236.

Difeajes epidemical, at Aleppo, from 1 742 to 1 747, inclufive ; fome ac-
count of, 190 — 212. In 1752, 212—218. In 1753, 218 — 223.

Divan among the Turks defcribed, 4.

Dogs of feveral kinds, in great plenty at Aleppo, 60. Not fubjed to
madnefs, ibid.

Dromedary, a beaft of burden in Syria, an account of, 57.

Druggoman at Aleppo, who, 132.

Dyfentery, produced from bad bread, 212.

£w^^rj among the Turks, who, 122. Their priviledges, z/5/i.

£«j^///7j at Aleppo, fome account of, 135.

Europeans at Aleppo, fome account of, 132, 133, 134. Why not fo liable

to epidemics as the natives, 138. Subject so a fever on their firft

arrival, 140.
Exercifes, little ufed among the Turks, 88. Some of them defcribed, ^(^,

Falcons. See Hawking.

Fever, acute at Aleppo, 190. Its fymptoms and method of cure, ibid.
Intermittent, its progref'. and cure, 99, 200, 202. Inflammatory among
children, 201. Method of cure, z^zis?. Malignant, 202. Symptoms and
cure, 203. Putrid, its fymptoms, 206, 207. Cure, 207. A different
kind of fatal fever, 207. Its fymptoms, 208,209. Cure, 209, 210,
Continual, 212, 21:;, 218, 219, 220. Symptoms and cure, 2 15, 2 1 6.
Freqnent among children, 217. Concomitants, ibid. Continual, ot a
more violent kind, 220. Symptoms, 220, 221. Cure, 222. Summer
fever among children, ibid. Conttinual fever, very infedious, 223.
Fever, violent in the plague, 230.

FiJ/J-„

INDEX.

Fijh^ feldom ufed by the Turks, 72. The different forts at Aleppo, 73—77;
Flo-juers, a great variety about Aleppo, fome account of 27, 2B; 29.
Fowls, tame, fcveral kinds ufed for food at Aiieppo, 63. Thofe of the game

kind, S'J,^ 64, 6g.
Fexes, found in Syria, 60.
French, theirnurnber at Aleppo, 132,
Frogs are in great abundance about Aleppo, 55. Ufed for food by the

chriftians, ^6. Some tree-frogs, 6^-
Fruits, various kinds about Aleppo, an account of, 20, 21, 22, 29.
Fuel, at Aleppo, account of, 7.

Funeral rites and fervice at Aleppo defcribed, 1 15— 1 1 J.
Furunculi at Aleppo, frequent, 222.

G.

Games, of what kinds ufed at Aleppo, 91. Not praflifed for money by
the Turks, 92.

Gardens about Aleppo, fome account of, 9.

Coats, two kinds about Aleppo, 52, 53. Ufed chiefly for their milk, 53.

Gonorrhoea, the Turks ignorant of its nature or the cure, 143.

Goofe, a diftemper at Aleppo defcribed, 140, 141. Its cure, 141.

Creeks, the moft numerous feft of chriuians at Aleppo, yy. Some ac-
count of their manner of living, 123. Of their lent or raft-days, ibid.

Greyhounds about Aleppo defcribed, 61.

Gypfum, in fmall quantities produced in Syria, 49. Its ufe, ibid.

H.

Haleb. See Aleppo.

//^r/i and //^rcw among the Turks, what, 114, 115.

Hares in great plenty about Aleppo, ^^. A particular method of drefling

them by the Arabs, ibid. Hares caught by the hawks frequently

there, 6y.
Hattat, a compofition ufed by the natives for dying fome parts of their

bodies, 102. Its compofition, ibid.
Hawking, in great repute among the people of fafliion at Aleppo, 67.

Several kinds of defcribed, ibid. 68.
Hemp, how ufed by the Turks for intoxicating, 83. Its effefls how

flopped, ibid.
Henna, how ufed by the Turks in dying their hands and feet, 103, 104.
Herbs-pot, and other kinds about Aleppo, an account of at different feafons

in the gardens, 23—26; and in the fields, 27.
Hogs, wild, a rarity at Aleppo, 5^,

Horfes

INDEX.

Ror[tSy different kinds about Aleppo, fome account of, 58.

Hofpitality, much pradtifed at Aleppo, 119.

Houfes. See Buildings.

Hyenas., found in the mountains of Syria, 59. An account of a diffedtion

of one, ibid. The ftory of its imitating the human voice ground-

lefs, ibid.

I.

Jackalls in great plenty about Aleppo, 60.

Jareed, an offenfive weapon among the Turks, and its ufe defcribed, 89.

Jerboa, a wild beaft found in the mountains of Syria, 61.

Jews, number of at Aleppo, 77. Their manner of living there, 130. Of
treating their poor, 131. Fafts, ibid. A particular ceremony of their
weddings, 132. Burying and mourning, ibid. Suffer greatly by »
plague at Aleppo, 192 ; and by the fmall-pox, 194.

Inocculation, not much pradifed at Aleppo, 194. Their injudicious man-
ner of performing it, 194, 195.

Infe5ls about Aleppo, fome account of, 61, 62, 63.

Jfmed, a powder ufed by the natives for blacking the infide of their eye-
lids,, 102.

K.

Kata, a remarkable bird very plentiful at Aleppo defcribed, 64, 65,
Kennafy, a kind of food ufed by the Turks defcribed, 107.
Khans or Caravan Seraijs at Aleppo, an account of, 5.
Kiojks at Aleppo defcribed, 4.

L.

Lapwing, a remarkable kind of, defcribed, 72.

Leban, a favourite difh among the inhabitants of Aleppo, what, 54.

Lents, various, of the different fedls of chriftians at Aleppo, 123, 124.

Letters or Papers, the manner of fmoaking them to prevent communicat-
ing infeflion, 257.

Lime-Jicne in plenty near Aleppo, 49.

Lizards in great abundance in Syria, 6^'

Locks made of wood at Aleppo, 6.

Locujis, in vaft numbers, do great raifchief in Syria, 62. Are ufed for food
by the Arabs, ibid.

Mahom-

INDEX.

M.

Mahommedans^ their number at Aleppo, yj. Their fuppofed fuperiority

over all other piofeffions, 79.
Mai d'Alepp, what, 142, 262, 263, 264. Dogs and cats fubjed to it,

264. Cure, 264, 265.
Market-places at Aleppo defcribed, 5, 6.
Maroniles, their Lent and faft-days at Aleppo, 123;
Marriages very early at Aleppo, 78. How brought about among the

Turks, 1 1 1. Ceremonies of, 1 12, 1 13. A Maronite wedding defcribed

125 — 129.
Meajles, Sydenham's defcription and method of cure the beft, 211. The

bad pradtice at Aleppo in this difeafe, ibid.
Metals, none found in Syria, 47.

Milk, how fupplied at Aleppo, ^Z- Generally very bad, ibid.
Mofques at Aleppo, fome account of, 5.
Meurning not worn at Aleppo, 118.
Muftee, his account of the Mahommedan faith, 119.
Mufic, and Mufical Injlruments of various kinds ufed at Aleppo, defcribed,

93 — 96.
Myftus, two fpecies of fifhes under that name defcribed, 76, '^•j.

N.
mtrom medicines, their ufe in the plague, 245.

O.

0// of feveral kinds plentifully produced in Syria, 18, 19. The bad con-
fequence of eating too plentifully of it, 141.

Ophthalmia very common at Aleppo, and why, 137. A particular kind of
it defcribed, 222.

Opium not fo generally ufed by the Turks as is reported, 83. Different me-
thods of ufingit, 83, 84- Itseffefts 84.

Orontes, the moft confiderable river in Syria, defcribed, 1 1.

Ounce^ a wild beaft, found on the mountains of Syria, 61.

Phthifis, air of Aleppo bad for it, 143.

Phyfic, and Phyficians, very imperfea: among the Turks, 97, 98. Their

practice trifling, 99, 100.

^ Pigeons^

INDEX.

Pigeons., feveral kinds about Aleppo, account of, 6^., 66. Some employed

as carriers, how trained, 66.
Pipes for fmoaking tobacco, different forts of the Turks and Perfians de-

fcribed, 82, 83.
P/rt^Kf brought to Aleppo, 192. Its fymptoms, /^/i. and method of cure,

192, 193. Another plague, and its progrefs, 197, 198, 199. Another,
201, 202. From whence commonly brought, and which the worft, 225.
Intervals, 225, 226. Progrefs, 226. Its force in different feafons, 226,
227. Not fo violent as in Europe, 227. Its violence checked by heat,
227, 228. Not influenced by the moon, 228. Relapfe of the diftemper
frequent, ibid. The caufe or numerous and terrible difl:refles, 228, 229.
Symptoms various in different, and fometimes in the fame perfons, 229.
Its general appearance and fymptoms, 229 — 234. Crifis, 234. Uncer-
tain prognoftics, 235. Other fymptoms, 235 — 240. Different opinions
about the method of cure, whence, 240. The manner oi treating it, 242.
That which was moft fuccefsful, 242 — 250. Method ufed by the Euro-
peans for their prefervation from it, 250 — 255. Manner of fhutting up,
255 — 258. Precautions after it, 259. Sudden both in its increafe and
decreafe, 259. Rules to be obferved by thofe who are among the in-
fedted, 260, 261.

Plants, a great variety of, produced about Aleppo at different feafons, fome
account of them, 30 — 46.

P/?«r//?^5 frequent at Aleppo, 195. Concomitant fymptoms, and method
of cure, 196, 203.

Ploughs and Ploughing about Aleppo defcribed, 16.

Porcupines, a few about Aleppo, KiC,. Are fometimes ate by the Euro-
peans, ibid.

Pox, Small, of different kinds at Aleppo, 193. Several of their fymptoms,

193, 194. Method of cure, 194, 204, 205, 206.

Prayers, ftated times of, among the Turks, 107. Thefe very exaflly ob-
ferved by them, 1 19.
Purging, its ufe in the plague, 242, 243.
Pulje, its ftate in the plague, 230, 131.

^linftes, inflammatory, frequent at Aleppo, 191, 203.

R.

Rabbits, feme tame ones kept at Aleppo, 55.

Ramadan, a moveable feuft among the Turks, an account of, and how
kept, 108.

N n Reptiles i

INDEX.

Reptiles, account of feveral about Aleppo, 6'i, 62.

Rbeumatifms frequent at Aleppo, 196. Concomitant fymptoms, and me-
thod ot cure, ibid.
Roioloet a Turkifh weight, what, ^6.

Salt, valley of, defcribed, 49, 50.

Scorpion, and Scolopendra, frequent about Aleppo, 62. Their fting not
mortal, ibid.

^^^y^i^j at Aleppo defcribed, 12 — 16.

Sefy, a large falcon for hawking, defcribed, Gj.

Serpents oi vnriovts kinds abound about Aleppo, 61.

Shaheen, a remarkable fmall falcon ufed in hawking, 68. How they catch
the largeft eagles, ib.

Sheeb, among the Turks, what, 114.

Sheep, different forts about Aleppo, account of, 51. One kind with a re-
markable large tail defcribed, 51, 52. Skin of this tail ufed medici-
nally, ibid.

Sheera. See Hemp.

Shooting, as a fport, rarely ufed at Aleppo, 6j.

Shiitting-up, a prefervative from the plague, 252. How praftifed at Alep-
po, 255.

Silk-ijcorms not much cultivated near Aleppo, 62.

Simack il ingleje, a remarkable kind of fifli, defcribed, 75, 76.

Slaves, well ufed at Aleppo, 113.

Smoaking tobacco, feveral methods ufed by the Turks and Perfians, 82, 83.

Snakes, large, white, inofFenfive fnakes found in the houfes about Alep-
po, 62.

Soil about Aleppo defcribed, 15, 47, 48.

S-Jseating, a critical (ymptom in the plague, 243, 247.

Syria, a general view of that country, 10, 11.

Syrians, their Lent andfaft-days at Aleppo, 123.

T.

Thirji, fometimes violent in the plague, 236.

loads, very rare about Aleppo, 63.

Tobacco, cultivated in Syria, 17. A pipe of tobacco part of the entertain-
ment of a vifit, 81. Is fmoaked to excefs by mofl: people at Aleppo, 82.
Different ways of fmoaking it, 82, 83,

Tongue, its ftate in the plague, 235, 236.

Trees, feveral kinds of, about Aleppo, 22, 23.

4 Turkman

INDEX.

Turkman camel defcribed, 56.

Turks, number of, ac Aleppo, yy. Their manner of living, 105 — 109.
Courtfhips and marriages, in, 112, 113. Slaves, 113. Women, hov/
treated, 113, 114,115. Funerals, funeral-fervice, and mourning, 115
— 11 8. Religion, and remarkable hofpitality and charity to the poor,
119.

Turtle-land abound about Aleppo, 55. Ufed for food, ^^, §6.

Tygers found on the mountains of Syria, 61.

V, u.

Vifits, ceremonies and entertainments of, at Aleppo, 8r.

Vomitings fymptom of the plague, 236. Advantages of it in that diftem*

per, 242, 245,
Urine., its .appearance in the plague, 236. ;

W.

Water plentiful at Aleppo, 7.

Weather at Aleppo, general obfervations on it, 145, 146, 147. Ufual
through the different months of the year, 148 — 157. During the years
1742 to 1747 inclufive, 158—166, A more particular journal of the
weather for the years 1752 and 1753, 167 — 189. The method and in-
ftruments ufed in keeping it, 146, 147, 167, 168.

/iPifWj at Aleppo, account of, 14, 15.

Wines, and Vineyards about Aleppo, fome account of, 19, 20.

Winter, at Aleppo, fhort and moderate, 12.

Wolves are of a fmaller kind than thofe in Europe, 60.

Women at Aleppo defcribed, 78, 79. Their early marriages, 78. Eafy la-
bours in childbed, 79. Of all conditions fuckle their own children, ibid.
Their manner of ufing the bagnio, 87, 88. Method of travelling, 89.
Few except proftitutes paint, 102. Black the infide of their eye-lid, 102,
103. Dye their feet and hands with henna, 103. Wear a ring through
their noftril, 104. Other ornaments, ibid. Are kept much at home,
113. On what occafion fuffered to go abroad, J13, 114. Mourning
for the dead, 115, n8. Attend their hulbands as fervants at table, 129.
Appear veiled before ftrangers, 130.
Wrejilers, employed to perform at Turkilh entertainments, 92. '

Z.

Zanous, a fmall falcon ufed in hawking, 68.

FINIS.

ERRATA.

lin. 5. in place of not touch the wall, read not to touch

the wall.
in place of June and Auguft, read June, July, and Auguft.
foon evaporated, read foon evaporated by the

fummer's heat,
barley, flour, &c. read barleyflour.
that come, &c. read come,
that there many amongft, read that there are

many amongft.
cat gain, read eat again.
Gr. H. Bar. 22. 3, read 29. 3.
he dare, read he dares,
it is not unufual, read it is unufual.
Pierian mountains, read mountains Amanus.

Plate VII. Phlomis orientalis homini folio, read Phlonois

orientalis hormini folio.

Pag. 4-

note.

Pag. 25.

1*

6.

29.

!•

22.

57-

1.

5-

70.

1.

9-

80.

1-

21.

108.

1,

3'

149.

J.

li.

136.

1.

19

156.

1.

9

191.

1.

14.

«

>