For a long time we journeyed on in the shade of these fruitful woods, till at length we entered the town through a large gate.

Our enthusiastic conceptions of this renowned city were more and more toned down as we continued to advance.
The houses in Damascus are almost all built of clay and earth, and many ugly wooden gables and heavy window-frames give a disagreeable ponderous air to the whole.

Damascus is divided into several parts by gates, which are closed soon after sunset.

We passed through a number of these gates, and also through the greater portion of the bazaar, on our road to the Franciscan convent.
We had this day accomplished a journey of more than twenty-four miles, in a temperature of 35 to 36 degrees Reaum., and had suffered much from the scorching wind, which came laden with particles of dust.

Our faces were so browned, that we might easily have been taken for descendants of the Bedouins.