Thence it is two days’ journey to Antioch the Great, situated on the river Fur (Orontes), which is the river Jabbok, that flows from Mount Lebanon and from the land of Hamath[54].  This is the great city which Antiochus the king built.  The city lies by a lofty mountain, which is surrounded by the city-wall.  At the top of the mountain is a well, from which a man appointed for that purpose directs the water by means of twenty subterranean passages to the houses of the great men of the city.  The other part of the city is surrounded by the river.  It is a strongly fortified city, and is under the sway of Prince Boemond Poitevin[55], surnamed le Baube.  Ten Jews[56] dwell here, engaged in glass-making, and at their head are R. Mordecai, R. Chayim, and R. Samuel.

[p.27]

From here it is two days’ journey to Lega, or Ladikiya, where there are about 100 Jews, at their head being R. Chayim and R. Joseph.

Thence it is two days’ journey to Gebal (Gebela), which is Baal-Gad, at the foot of Lebanon[57].  In the neighbourhood dwells a people called Al-Hashishim[58].  They do not believe in the religion of Islam, but follow one of their own folk, whom they regard as their prophet, and all that he tells them to do they carry out, whether for death or life.  They call him the Sheik Al Hashishim, and he is known as their Elder.  At his word these mountaineers go out and come in.  Their principal seat is Kadmus, which is Kedemoth in the land of Sihon.  They are faithful to each other, but a source of terror to their neighbours, killing even kings at the cost of their own lives.  The extent of their land is eight days’ journey.  And they are at war with the sons of Edom who are called the Franks, and with the ruler of Tripolis, which is Tarabulus el Sham[59].  At Tripolis in years gone by there was an earthquake, when many Gentiles and Jews perished, for houses and walls fell upon them.  There was great destruction at that time throughout the Land of Israel, and more than 20,000 souls perished[60].

[p.28]

Thence it is a day’s journey to the other Gebal (Gubail), which borders on the land of the children of Ammon, and here there are about 150 Jews.  The place is under the rule of the Genoese, the name of the governor being Guillelmus Embriacus[61].  Here was found a temple belonging to the children of Ammon in olden times, and an idol of theirs seated upon a throne or chair, and made of stone overlaid with gold.  Two women are represented sitting one on the right and one on the left of it, and there is an altar in front before which the Ammonites used to sacrifice and burn incense[62].  There are about 200 Jews there, at their head being R. Meir, R. Jacob, and R. Simchah.  The place is situated on the sea-border of the land of Israel.  From there it is two days’ journey to Beirut, or Beeroth, where there are about fifty Jews, at their head being R. Solomon, R. Obadiah, and R. Joseph.  Thence it is one day’s journey to Saida, which is Sidon, a large city, with about twenty Jews.