From hence going South-East, in four Hours more we came to a Well called _Costal_ (which signifies a _Spring in Arab_.) Most part of our way through the Desart we were troubled with _Rat-holes_ in great numbers, like Coneyboroughs, which by the sinking in of the Earth, very much incommoded our Horses and Mules. These _Rats_ have at the ends of their Tails a bush of Hair, and the _Arabs_ eat them all, excepting one part. From this Well we arose about four in the Afternoon, and began to ascend small Hills, covered with Trees, which, for the most part, were the small _Pistacho_'s which the _Arabs_ pickle with Salt; but eaten green, are good to quench Thirst. We travelled on three Hours up the Hills, where we pitch'd that Night, having no other Water but what we carry'd with us; and at Night we had a small Shower of Rain, a thing unusual in that Country at that time of the Year. _July 22._ we rose by Two in the Morning, and Travelling E. S. E. we came by Eleven to a Well call'd _G'hor_, where we found it very Hot, and saw several prints of Horses Feet, so that we suspected some _Arabs_ had newly past that way. _July 23._ we rose by One in the Morning, and Travelling most East, we came to a large Plain, where we saw before us, on a high Mountain, a great Castle, call'd by the _Arabs_ _Anture_. When we had travelled two or three Hours in this Plain, we espied an _Arab_ driving towards us a Camel, with his Launce, so fast, that he came on a round Gallop, and we supposed him sent as a Spy: being come up to us, he told us he was of _Tadmor_, and that his Prince, the _Emir Melkam_, had that Day made Friendship with _Hamet Shideed_ another Prince, and that together they had four hundred Men; so he kept us Company an Hour or two, and enquired of our _Mulettiers_ if we were not _Turks_ disguised, with intent to seize on _Melkam_; for we travelled with a _Bandiero_, the Impress being a _Hanjarr_ or _Turkish_ Dagger, and a Half-Moon. We told him we were _Franks_, which he could hardly believe, wondering that we travelled thus in the Desart, only out of Curiosity. Being come near to _Tadmor_, he went a little before us, and on a sudden run full speed towards the Ruins, we not endeavouring to hinder him. Our Guide told us he was gone to acquaint the _Arabs_ who we were, and that we ought to suspect and prepare for the worst; so we dismounted twenty of our Servants, each having a long Gun, and Pistols at his Girdle, and placed them abreast before us: we following at a little distance behind, on Horse-back, with Carbines and Pistols. In this order we proceeded, and came to a most stately _Aqueduct_, which runs under Ground in a direct passage five Miles, and is covered with an Arch of Bastard Marble all the Way, and a Path on both sides the Channel for two Persons to walk abreast; the Channel it self being about an _English_ Yard in breadth, and ¾ of a Yard in depth. At 20 Yards distance all the way