How I Spent My Five Weeks' Leave.

derfully refreshing to watch " The sweep of some precip itous rivulet to the wave , " in hot weather like this , when both horses aud riders are fain frequently to stop and drink , though the water is so icy cold that we can scarcely swallow it . By noon

we are on nearly the same level as the snow , which we now perceive is retained chiefly in deep narrow crevices in the rock , which offer but a small surface to the sun ' s rays . We pass some of these , not more than a hundred yards from the road . On

reachiug the highest point , where the road crosses ihe ridge , we get a fine view of Anti-Lebanon , and hoary headed Hermon on the right , while between us and Anti-Lebanon lies the rich plain ¦ of Bukaciwhich is well cultivatedand from this

, , height presents a very brilliant variety of coloured patches , according the different kinds of cultivation . This would be a rare place for growing ¦ cotton ; there is abundant water , and a traction

¦ engine could work on this fine road , and convey the cotton to the coast . There is a fine bracing mountain breeze up here , which we enjoy amazingly and which renders our appetites uncommonly keen . This is the sort of thing to cure dyspepsia and such like evils .

" Let Mammon ' s sons with visage lean , Bestless , and vigilant , and keen , "Whose thought is but to buy and sell , In the hot toiling city dwell ; Give me to walk on mountain bare , Give me to breathe the open air ,

To hear the village children ' s mirth , To see the beauty of the earth In wood and wild , by lake and sea To wander—foot and spirit free . " Early morning is the time to climb and wander

over this noble range , watching the beautiful and ever changing tints , while both ear and eye are soothed by " The flow of rivers , and bill flowers running wild In pink and purple chequer . "

Descending to lunch on the mountain side , " "Where sweet air stirs blue harebells lightly , and where prickly furze Buds lavish gold . "

and at night from your encampment below gaze on the sunset , and mark the blue mountain peaks . "Bathed all over with a streaming flood Of level light , as Heaven ' s majestic orb Slow sinks beneath the far oli western hills . "

Descending into the plain of Bukaa by numberless windings of the road , we find our camp about two miles from the foot of the range , by the side

of a stream . After dinner we have a jovial reunion outside one of the tents , where we sit iu a circle and smoke and sing songs in the bright moonlight till bed time , when after a glass of punch chilled iu the icy stream , we turn in for

such refreshing sleep , as is only enjoyed by those who earn it . We never get -much sleep after 4 , as the jingling of the ] mules' bells , and the snorting of the Arab servants who are incessantly yelling " Yallah , Yallah , " which apparently means ,

" Come , make haste , " render later slumbers impossible . Shouts of " Jebel Mai" are then heard from all the tents , the meaning of which is " bring water , " the natives cannot think why we use so much water , and put our ablutions down as part of our

religion , nor are they far wrong , for if cleanliness be not godliness , it is at all events next to it ! B y six we are in the saddle and riding up the plain of Bukaa , with Lebanon on our left and Anti-Lebanon on our right . We pass two large villages

and are struck by the civility of the men , and the good looks of the women . These inhabitants of the Lebanon and its vicinity are a much finer race than the people we saw further South .

We halt at a little village , and the school children are granted a half holiday to let us lunch in the schoolroom . Tables and chairs are unknown , so we rest on the floor , and the viands are placed on a cloth spread in the centre , Railway rugs

and saddle bags serve us for pillows after lunch , when smoking , reading , writing , or smoking are the order of the day . But we remount soon , and three houi's' ride bring us to Baalbei , built on the plain at the foot of Anti-Lebanon . The

first view of it is disappointing , as , being on the plain , it does not show not show well from a distance , and the six immense columns of the Peristyle of the "Temple of the Sun" left standing are from this point seen in enfilade , so

that only one is visible , but when one is close to the ruin , and sees the enormous masses of masonry which forms the p latform on which the temples were built , the massive blocks 20 feet long - , and more , of which the walls are composed ,,

old columns of immense size thrown about in all diiections , whilst ornamental capitals and fragments of beautifully carved stone strew the ground in all parts of the ruins , one feels struck dumb with wonder and admiration .

The ruins are surrounded with silver poplar groves , through which run in all directions beautiful streams of clear cool water . We enter by