A beautiful fertile valley adjoins this desert, and stretches towards Mount Lebanon, on whose brown rocky surface several villages can be descried.
This mountain-range has a most imposing appearance.

White rocks and strata of white sand shine forth from its broad and generally barren expanse like fields of snow.
The residence of the late Lady Hester Stanhope can be seen in the distance on the declivity of the mountain.
During our long ride of ten hours we did not pass a single tank, spring, or even pool, and all the river-beds on our way were completely dried up by the heat.

Not a tree could we see that could shelter us for a moment from the glaring heat of the sun.

It was a day of torment for us and for our poor beasts.

Two of our brave horses sank from exhaustion, and could go no farther, though relieved of their burdens; we were obliged to leave the poor creatures to perish by the wayside.
At three in the afternoon we at length arrived at Beyrout, after having bravely encountered, during ten consecutive days, the toil and hardship inseparable from a journey through Syria.
The distance from Jerusalem to Beyrout is about 200 miles, allowing for the circuitous route by way of Tabarith, which travellers are not, however, compelled to take.