ted down in the
tent on the evening of each day. My investigation convinced me that the
railway communication so often dreamed of is absolutely impracticable,
chiefly on account of the easily movable character of the sands of the
desert. The line would become completely buried beneath them after every
storm of any degree of violence, and could therefore only be kept clear
by constant labour and expense. Of all proposals for the attainment of
the object in question the most promising appeared to me to be the
formation of a good harbour at Beyrout, to which all the trade of Syria
might be directed by means of two railways, one along the rich coast of
Southern Syria, and the other to pass down the valley of the Jordan.
Beyrout offers greater advantages for the purpose than Jaffa, inasmuch
as the harbour works would be easier, and therefore less costly; and the
town itself, besides being far richer, already possesses established
communications with Damascus and the inland trade.

The accomplishment of this work seems to me so important in view of the
welfare and commercial development of Syria, that I cannot conclude
without expressing a wish that it may be soon undertaken under the
auspices of those Powers in whose interests it may be.

ZINDIS, NEAR TRIESTE,
_October 1879_.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

I. EL KANTARA 1

II. TO BIR EL NUS AND KATYA 5

III. FROM KATYA TO BIR EL ABD 11

IV. FROM BIR EL ABD TO BIR EL MAGARA 18

V. FROM BIR EL MAGARA TO EL HARISH 25

VI. EL HARISH 30

VII. FROM EL HARISH TO SHEIK EL ZVOYED 47

VIII. FROM SHEIK EL ZVOYED TO KHANYUNIS 52

IX. KHANYUNIS 57

X. FROM KHANYUNIS TO GAZA 65

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.[2]

1. JEBEL EL MAGARA _Frontispiece._

2. JEBEL ABOU ASSAB _To face page_ 6

3. EL GUJA " 8

4. RUMMAN " 9

5. KATYA " 10

6. SHEIK EL MZEYEN, IN KATYA " 12

7. LEHOCHOMU-MELLEHA " 18

8. JEBEL EL MAGARA (taken from El Brej) " 22

9. KOUBBA EL MAGARA