New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-10-15
RAyARp TAYL0R's LETTERS.

Editorial Corrsspoadenee OF The " T. Irioshs'
In QUARANTINE (adana, Asis hlnorJ
Thursday, June II, 1852
We left AleppO ON the morning OF tne 9th'
under circumstances not the most promising lot
the harmony of our journey. We had engaged
horses and baggage-nules from the cdP'dJ', OF
chief of the muleteers and IN order 10 be Ger
tain of having animals that wmild not break
down on the way, made a particular selection
from number that were brought US. When
about leaving TIE cSity, however, we discovered
that one of the horses bad been changed. The
Consul. SipnOr di PicciOttO, who accompanied
us past the Custom.Hmse barriers, immedi-
ately dispatched the delinquent muleteer 70
bring back the true horse, and the latter made
n farce of irving TO find him, leading the Consul
and the capidii (whO, believe, was at the bot
tom Of the cheat,) a wid-goese chase over the
hills around AleppO, where, Of course, the AMI
NAL was not to be seen. When, az length, we
had waitefthree hours, and had wandered about
four miles from the city, we gave up the search
took leave of the Consul and went on with the
new horse. Our proper plan would have been
IN mitch the tent and refuse 10 move tlii the
matter wss settled. The ANIMAL as We discOv-
cred during the first days journey was hope
lessly lame, and we only added 10 the dlfflculty
by taking him.
We rode westward all day over barren ami
stony hills, meeting with abundant traces oil the
power and prosperity of this region during the
times of the Greek EmperOrs. The devastation
wrought by earthquakes has been terrble'
there is scarcely wall or arch standing, which
does not bear marks of having been violently
shaken. The walls inclOslng the hg-0rchards
near the villages contain many stones with
Greek inscriptions, and fragments OF cornlces.
We encamped the first night on the plana the
font of Mount st. Simon, and not far from the
ruins of the celebrated Church OF the same
name The building stands IN stony Wider
derness at the foot OF the mountain. III Is
about hundred feet long and thirty III hl9ht,
with two lofty square towers IN front. Inc
payemeDt of The interior is entirely concealed
by the masses of pillars capitals and hewn
blocks that lie heaped upon it. The windows
which are of the TALL narrow, archcd form com
mon in Byzantine Churches, have common
moulding which falls like Il mantle over ana be-
tween them. The general effect of the Church
isyery fine. though there is much inelegance in
the sculptnred details At the extremity is o
halfdome Of massive stone, over the place OF
the altar. and lust in front of this formerly stood
the pedestal Wherein, according 10 tradition,
St Simeon Stytes commenced his pillar-llie.
i fOuNO TtctUi tACdNdtlOu NJ th' HPpNf bNb a.
pedestal. which has probably been carried OIL
Nv the Greek monks. Beside the Church stands
alaree building with an upper aud lower bal
cony supported by square stone pillars, around
three sides. There is also paven courtyard,
large cistern cut in the rock and numerous
out-buildings, all going 10 confirm the suppO-
sition Of its having been monastery. The
main building is three stories high, with pointed
gables, aud bears a strong resemblance 10 an
American summer hotel with ycrandahs. Sew
eril ancient fig and walnut trees are growing
among the ruins, and add 70 their picturesque
appearance.
The next day we crossed broad chain OF hills
to the Plain of Antioch, which we reached near
its northern extremity. In one OF the valley
through which the road lay, We saw number o
hot sulphur springs, some OF them Ot consider
able volume of water. Not far from them Wa
n beautiful fountain of fresh and cold waite
gushing from the foot OF high rock. Soon ate
reaching the plain we crossed the stream q
Kara Sa, which feeds the Lake of Antioch. Til
part of the plain is low and swampy, aud ia,
streams are literally alive with fish. While
passing over the bridge ! saw many hundreds
from one 10 two feet in length We wandered
through the marshy meadows for two or three
hours, and toward sunset reached a TurcOmar
20 pitch our tents The rude tribe received us
Hospitality and sent us milk and cheese in abund
ance | visited the tent of the Shekh, who was
very courteous, but as he knew no language but
Turkish, our conversation was restricted ID
signs.
The muSketOes were so thick during the night
that We were obliged to ill the tent with smoke
in order 10 sleep. When morning came, We
III. l., t,.,ft. h,t,
only brought a worse pest, in the shape Of
swarms of black gnats, similar TO those wnicl
no tormented me in Nubis. | know of no III
Fiction so terrible as these gnats which you
cannot drive away and which assail ears, eyes
and nostrls in such quantities that you become
mad and desperate in your efforts 10 eject them
Through glens filled with oleander. We descend
cd the first slopes of Akma Dagh, the noun
tain range which divides the Gulfo Scanderool
from the Plain of Antioch. Then, passing
natural terrace, covered with groves OF oak, GA
road took the mountain side, climbing upwar,
in the shadow of pine and wild olive trees, AM
between banks OF blooming lavender and myr
tie We saw two or three companies OF armed
guards, stationed by the roadside for the noun
tain is infested with robbers, and a caravan haC
been plundered only three days before. tn,
view looking backward, took in the whole plain
with the Lake OF Antioch glttering in the cen
ter, the valley OF the Orontes in the south, ant
the lofty cone OF Djcbel Okrab tar TO the west
As We approached the summit, violent gusts o
wind blew through the pass with such force as al
most 10 overturn our horses. Here the road from
Antioch joins that from Aleppo, and both 10
some distance retain the ancient pavement.
From the western side We saw the sea one,
more and went down through the Pyir Syria
or Syrian Gates, as this deiile Was called by th,
Romans. Ii is very narrow and rugged, Will
an abrupt descent. In an hour from the sum
init we came upon an aqueduct of triple row
of arches, crossing the gorge Ii is still use,
TO carry water 10 the town OF Bcilan, whic!
hangs over the mouth of the pass, halt mi!'
below This is one Of the most picturesque
spots in Syria. The houses cling 20 the side'
and cluster ON the SUBMITS Of PERCEPTIONS crags