CHAPTER I.

THE COAST OF SYRIA.

Postal Service of the Coast of Syria—Acre, Sidon—A Resident’s Opinion as to Turkish Administration—Halet Pasha—Essaad Pasha—Tripoli—The Kadisha—Mosque—Coast Line and Nusairiyeh Mountains—Alexandretta—Causes of its Unhealthiness—Its Commercial Advantages—Constant changes of Governors—Want of means of Communication—Roads and Railroads could be easily constructed—Murder of a Missionary—Monuments of former British Residents—Want of Good Harbours—Mersina in 1812—Causes of its increase—Description of Town—Europeans do not thrive there—Why—Plain of Mersina—Mounds 1-15