Page 468 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

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XXVI.] NAKAB EL HAJAR.

seven feet in length, from two feet ten inches

to three feet in height, and from three to four

in breadth. These decrease in size with the

same regularity to the summit, where their

breadth is not more than half that of those

below, where the thickness of the wall,

though I did not measure it, cannot be less

than ten feet, and, as far as I could judge,

about four at the summit. Notwithstanding

the irregularity of its foundation, the stones

are invariably placed in the same horizontal

lines, carefully cemented with mortar, which

has acquired a hardness almost equal to that

of the stone. Such parts of the wall as re­

main standing, are admirably knitted toge­

ther; others which, by the crumbling away

of their bases, incline towards their fall, still

adhere in their tottering state without frac­

ture; and those patches which have fallen,

are scattered around in huge undissevered

masses. There are no openings in these

walls, no turrets at the upper part,—the

whole wears the same stable, uniform, and

solid appearance. In order to prevent the

mountain torrent, which leaves on the face

of the surrounding country evident traces