The poor inhabitants of Syria are woefully ground down; the taxes are too high in proportion to the productions of the soil, so that the peasants cannot possibly grow more produce than they require for their own consumption.

Thus, for instance, orchards are not taxed in the aggregate, but according to each separate tree.

For every olive-tree the owner must pay a piastre, or a piastre and a half; and the same sum for an orange or lemon tree.

And heavily taxed as he is, the poor peasant is never safe in saying, "Such and such a thing belongs to me." The pacha may shift him to another piece of land, or drive him away altogether, if he thinks it advisable to do so; for a pacha's power in his province is as great as that of the Sultan himself in Constantinople.
Porcupines are to be met with on Mount Tabor; we found several of their fine horny quills.
From the farther side of the mountain we descended into the beautiful and spacious valley of Saphed, the scene of the miracle of the loaves and fishes, and rode on for some hours until we reached Tabarith.
A very striking scene opens before the eyes of the traveller on the last mountain before Tabarith.

A lovely landscape lies suddenly unrolled before him.