48 JOURNEY FROM hoona * range and extends to the sea. From the top of Selem there is an extensive view westward, over the plain of Jumarr, as far as the sandy desert ; and on the eastern side of the ridge there is another view, equally imposing, over the plain of Lebida ; so that in spite of the torrents of rain which still continued to deluge us, we could not help stopping occasionally to admire them.

1 rom the summit of this range we noticed several remains of what appeared to be towers, conspicuously situated on the peaks of the hills to the northward ; and which, from the strength of their position, might have bid defiance to any attack that could be made upon them : their situations appear to have been chosen with the intention of their being easily distinguished one from another, so as to answer the purpose of communication. The valleys of this range are capable of the highest degree of cultivation, but their fertility has only been partially taken advantage of by the Arabs of the neighbourhood.

In some of them we noticed vines and olive-trees flourishing most luxuriantly between patches of ground producing corn and vegetables.

Descending on the eastern side of the range, the road lies along the side of the mountain, and several ruins of forts and tombs are conspicuous on either side of it : here also are several remains of ancient wells, and we noticed one, in particular, which had fragments of marble columns lying near it. During the whole of this day the road was so slippery, in consequence of the heavy rains, that our camels could with difiiculty proceed : they were continually falling The Terhoona range is a branch of the Gharian.