A stone bridge, of very simple construction, led us across the largest stream in the neighbourhood, the Barada, which is, however, neither so broad nor so full of water as the Jordan.
But soon we had left these smiling scenes behind us, and were wending our way towards the lonely desert.

We passed several sepulchres, a number of which lie scattered over the sandy hills and plains round us.

On the summit of one of these hills a little monument was pointed out to us, with the assertion that it was the grave of Abraham.

We now rode for hours over flats, hills, and ridges of sand and loose stones; and this day's journey was as fatiguing as that of our arrival at Damascus.

From twelve o'clock at noon until about five in the evening we continued our journey through this wilderness, suffering lamentably from the heat.