e third at the valley opening into the
Mesfale. These walls were repaired in A.H. 816 and 828, and in a century
after some traces of them still remained.

The only public place in the body of the town is the ample square of the
great mosque; no trees or gardens cheer the eye; and the scene is
enlivened only during the Hadj by the great number of well stored shops
which are found in every quarter. Except four or five large houses
belonging to the Sherif, two _medreses_ or colleges (now converted into
corn magazines,) and the mosque, with some buildings and schools attached
to it, Mekka cannot boast of any public edifices, and in this respect
is, perhaps, more deficient than any other eastern city of the same size.
Neither khans, for the accommodation of travellers, or for the deposit of
merchandize, nor palaces of grandees, nor mosques, which adorn every
quarter of other towns in the East, are here to be seen; and we may
perhaps attribute this want of splendid buildings to the veneration which
its inhabitants entertain for their temple; this prevents them from
constructing any edifice which might possibly pretend to rival it.

The houses have windows looking towards the street; of these many project
from the wall, and have their frame-work elaborately carved, or gaudily
painted. Before them hang blinds made of slight reeds, which exclude
flies and gnats while they admit fresh air. Every house has its terrace,
the floor of which (composed of a preparation from lime-stone) is built
with a slight inclination, so that the rain-water runs off through
gutters into the street; for the rains here are so irregular that it is
not worth while to collect the water of them in cisterns, as is done in
Syria. The terraces are concealed from view by slight parapet walls; for
throughout the east, it is reckoned discreditable that a man should
appear upon the terrace, whence he might be accused of looking at women
in the neighbouring houses, as the females pass much of their time on the
terraces, employed in various domestic occupations, such as drying corn,
hanging up linen, &c. The Europeans of Aleppo alone enjoy the privilege
of frequenting their terraces, which are often beautifully built of
stone; here they resort during the summer evenings, and often to sup and
pass the night. All the houses of the Mekkawys, except those of the
principal and richest inhabitants, are constructed for the accommodation
of lodgers, being divided into man