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each about 40 feet square, and almost eyery Christian family
has one, which is walled up after each interment.1
Beteddin, the walled palace of the Emir Bechir is a little
way south-eastward, on the southern side of the valley, and
nearly on the same level; it occupies the crest of an isolated
sugar-loaf hill, whose slopes are covered by terraced gardens,
supported by walls, forming a succession of circles from the
base almost to the summit; through these, by means of a
flight of steep steps, there is an ascent from the valley to the
palace. A castellated entrance leads into an outer court of
the latter, round which are arcades, partly used as stables, and
partly by the guards and other attendants; on the western
side there is a Saracenic archway leading into a second court;
and beyond is a third court, which is that of the harem. The
second cpurt, is in the eastern style, having in the centre a
large marble fountain, prettily shaded with orange-trees; and
around it are the church and principal apartments, forming
several suites. Some of the rooms have Arabesque ceilings and
recessed walls, much ornamented with fret-work. These
rooms are, however, far inferior to any thing associated with
our ideas of a palace; but the deficiency in this respect is more
than compensated by the wild and striking scenery presented
from the terraces of the building. Beneath is a deep and
yvinding valley, which at first presents, on one side, terraced
gardens, trees, and shrubs, with bold rocks beyond; and on
the opposite side is the town, backed by high and rugged
mountains, through an opening of which the sea is visible in
the distance.2
About eight hours’ journey eastward, on the road to the Bika,
is the monastery of Mar Elias, surrounded by vineyards and
thriving mulberry plantations ; and, at the commencement of
the valley itself, is situated Zahle, one of the principal towns
subject to the Druses; it contains nearly 9000 inhabitants,
and 1500 mud-built, terrace-roofed houses, containing one
room, or at most two rooms in each. With the exception of
a few Turkish and some Druse families, the inhabitants are