5318 feet above the sea, with its abutments extending to Antioch. To the north, the Beilan range (5337 feet), well stocked with forest trees, chiefly oak, walnut, and fir; and in front the broad expanse of the bay, backed by the hills of Antioch, Mount S. Symeon, or Ben-kiliseh, covered with myrtle, bay, and arbutus, altogether forming a striking and magnificent panorama, &c.”1

"The southern horn of the bay of Antioch trends inwards, east by north, about seven miles to the beach. Near its outer extremity is the little bay or fissure called Kasab, and three miles nearer to the mainland, that of Kará Mayor, which is rather larger, and has a good anchorage off it close to the shore; the rest of the distance along the foot of Mount Casius being precipitous, and for the most part inaccessible, as far as the beach, beyond which, the range of Jebel El 'Akrab runs towards Antioch in the previous direction, east by north, with the rich picturesque valley of the Orontes at the foot, and the celebrated fountain of Daphne on its slope. -Eight miles and a half, north by west, half west, is the other horn of the bay, which is formed by Jebel Musa; on the base of which opening north-west, are the ruins of the well-known city built by Seleucus Nicator to celebrate his victory over Antigonus; but it has a much deeper interest to the Christian, from being the spot where Paul and Barnabas embarked for Cyprus."

Such a description, by such an observer, may add a still deeper interest to the scene, as showing how the bay of Antioch has been formed by Nature's God, and presents the opening on the coast where He has also formed the entrance into Hamath, so often spoken of in his word.

The expedition first pitched their tents near to the ruins of Seleucia. "The scene, with the British flag

Geographical Journal, vol. viii. p. 228.

2 Ibid. pp. 228, 229.

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floating over their heads, and the noble mountains which surrounded them, of which Mount Casius was the monarch, was most animated and picturesque."

That spot, with Mount Casius in the distance, is delineated in the splendid work entitled "Fisher's Views, or Syria, the Holy Land, &c., illustrated," to the publishers of which the author is indebted for an illustration of the scene, as well as the view of a portion of the valley, both taken from the original plates. The reader is referred to other views of Mount Casius in the same work, as it is seen from the sea, (vol. i. p. 77;) from Mr Barker's village at Suadeah; and from the village of Beit-y-ass, (vol. iii. p. 74,) where the lofty peak of Casius is seen towering higher than the other less defined mountains.

In the description of the view of the remains of the port of Seleucia, it is said, "The scene at present is wild and impressive. A desolate and rocky beach,Mount Casius on the left, a few country barks crossing the bay of Suadeah, to enter the mouth of the Orontes. The two piers of the ancient port are seen projecting into the sea: the ruined tower on the rock was built for its protection; and near this one of the piers ran into the sea, constructed of very large stones, some of them twenty feet by six in width, and five in depth: they have been fastened together by iron cramps, the remains of which are still to be seen. Mount Casius, that towers on the left far above the other heights, is the finest mountain, and of the most striking appearance of any in Syria: its summit is a pyramid of rock; its sides are broken into deep and precipitous glens. Its larger portion is bare and naked, yet it is more sublime in its bareness, than if sheltered entirely, like many

'Fisher's Views, vol. i. p. 77.