2. The northern portion of the Northern Valley begins at the ter mination of Mount Librusus (34° 40' N. lat.) and Mount Antilibanns (34° 20' N. lat.). North of these places a level country extends across the whole breadth of Syria, from the Mediterranean to the Euphrates. It is quite destitute of trees ; and though a great part of it is fit for cultivation, the extent of the cultivated tracts is small, which is mainly owing to the want of water.
The Jebel-el-Anzeyry begins in 34' 40' N. lat., and on the plain extending east of the river Azy a ridge of hills called Jebel-el-Aala rises near N. let. This last-mentioned ridge runs from south-east to north-west, and thus approaches the Jebel Erbayu, or eastern offset of the Jebel-el-Anzeyry, south of tho town of Harrah, near 35° 5' N. lat. From this point the river Azy runs for 12 miles in a narrow valley, which is inclosed by rugged mountains, but it widens in some parts, and in one of these plains the town of 'famish is built. At the northern extremity of this valley the eastern ridge sinks down to the level of the plaio, but two or three miles farther north it rises again under the name of Jebel Shaehsabon, and here begins that fine valley which is called El-Chab, and which is about thirty-five miles in length ; its width is about five miles, but it grows narrower towards the north. The river flows near the base of the Jebel-el-Anzeyry, where it forms numerous marshes. In winter it inundates the level ground, through which it flows and leaves many small lakes. The valley is watered also by numerous rivulets. The villages are pretty numerous, and mostly built at the base of the mountains: they are surrounded by fields on which dhurra and wheat are grown. The remainder is used as pasture-ground for cattle and buffaloes. Large herds of buffaloes are kept in the swampy part of the valley. The wider valley of the Chab terminates at Jebel Shogher, and hence the Azy runs northward in a narrow valley, which contains very little land fit for agriculture ; but the aides of the mountains are covered with plantations of fruit trees : those of mulberry-trees and olive-trees are very extensive. Where the Azy emerges from this valley, and, turning north-west and west, flows along the base of the Jebel-el-Anzeyry, an extensive plain opens to the north, the ancient plain of Antiochia, now called El-Umk, which stretches to the base of the Alma Dagh. It is about 35 miles long, with an average width of 15 miles. Towards the
middle of the plain is a deep depression, which receives all the rivers that descend from the mountains surrounding it on the east, north, and west, and form an extensive lake, called El-/3ohhaire, the ancient Lake of Antiochia. It is about 12 miles long and 0 miles wide, and noted for its eels, which form an article of commerce. The country surrounding the lake rises in very gentle slopes towards the babe of the Alma Dagh. The northern part of the valley is cultivated, and produces wheat, barley, and several kinds of pulse. The Lake of Bonaire discharges its waters into the Azy by the Kara-au, which runs through the southern and lower part of the plain, which for the greater part of the year is nearly a swamp. No part of it Is cultivated, and it is only used as pasture-ground.
The Unlit constitutes the most northern portion of tho Northern Valley, which is connected with tire Mediterranean by the Talley in which the Azy reaches the sea by a west-south-west course. This last-mentioned valley is nearly 30 miles long, and from 4 to 6 miles wide between the Jebel-el-Anzeyry and tho Jebelel-Ahmar, The river runs near the base of the Jebel-el-Anzeyry, and on its northern banks is an undulating country, generally well cultivated. Much tobacco is grown, and the plantations of mulberry-trees are extensive : other fruit-trees also abound. Tho Azy, from its source, about 12 miles north-east of Baalbec, to its mouth runs above 200 miles. After having entered the plain north of the mountain ranges, it falls into a lake called Eahr-el-Kades, which is about C miles long and 2 miles wide. The river is not navigated, but it is said that it could be easily rendered navigable for barges to a distance of 27 miles above Antakla. Its month is obstructed by a bar, ores which there Is from three and a half to nine feet of water in winter.
3, The Hilly Region, which extende to the cast of the valley of the Azy and of the EI-Unsk, from the town of Darnall to the base of the Alma Dagh, may occupy about 10 miles in width, south of 36' 10 N. lat., but where it is contiguous to the El-Umk it is more than twice as wide. The southern portion has somewhat the form of a the limestone rocks rising to a considerable elevation, and iuclosiui valleys ; but many of these hills are only covered with bushes, and he arable grounds are not extensive. Barley and dhurra are grown. Vines are much cultivated, and grapes and debs are seut to Aleppo.