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The capital of Syria, the residence of the pacha, and, in point of importance, inferior only to Constantinople and Cairo; to both of which, however, it is superior in the elegance of its buildings and the salubrity of its situation. It is called, in the Arabic language, Haleb, to which is commonly added the term Al Shahba, the latter term denoting a variegated grey and white colour, which is believed to refer to the appearance of the buildings and the soil.

The situation of Aleppo is in N. lat. 36°, 11', 25", E. lon. from Greenwich 37°, 10', 15", considerably elevated above the level of the sea, and at the distance of about 60 or 70 miles in a direct line from Scanderoon, or Alexandretta, the nearest sea-port. It is most probably the Berrea of the Greeks, though some have imagined it to be the Zobah of Scripture. The reader may consult, on this point, Bochart, Geog. Sacr. col. 79. Procopius, Bell, Persic. b. ii. c. 7. and Jur. Græco Rom. p. 292. There is another town in ruins, about fifteen miles distant to the south, sometimes called Old Aleppo, and by the Turks and Arabs, Kinnasreen, to which the honours of this site have been frequently ascribed.

houses, which rise in regular gradations above each ALEPPO. other on the sides of the hills, and are interspersed with cypress and poplar trees. The anticipations of the traveller, however, are much disappointed upon his entrance into the place, for although, as we have remarked, Aleppo is superior to most, if not all the other cities of the Ottoman empire, in its construction, the streets are still gloomy, and appear narrower than they are in reality, in consequence of the disproportionate height of the stone walls on either side, which have few windows, and those guarded with lattices. Still some of the streets are spacious, and well paved, having two raised footpaths. In some places also a beautiful vista is found by looking through several arches in succession. The houses are in general spa- Houses. cious, and furnished with terraces, and frequently sky-lights, in the form of a dome. During the summer, the inhabitants sleep on these terraces, which are separated by parapet walls. From the equal elevation of the terraces and doors of communication 'which the Franks have made, a considerable circuit may be made without descending into the streets; the Turks, however, are not very fond of this kind of communication, and often raise their walls to such a height as to prevent it. The palace of the pacha is large, with gates of great dimensions and magnificence; the state apartments are well lighted, spacious, and ornamented with paintings; the rest are without taste. In general, this city is more cleanly than others in Turkey, ass-drivers going about to collect the dust and rubbish, which every inhabitant is required to sweep together in little heaps.

Aleppo is surrounded, at the distance of a few miles, with low hills, which have a barren appearance, being destitute of trees; but they furnish pasture for sheep and goats. Still inferior hills are included within this circle, perpetually intersected by vallies and plains. The river Kowick is in general an insignificant stream at Aleppo, and slow in its current, but in winter it sometimes swells into a considerable river. The city is raised upon eight small hills of varying altitude, which, with the intermediate vallies, and an extent of flat ground, comprise a circuit of seven miles: the city itself, however, ought not properly to be estimated at more than three miles and a half in circumference. It is surrounded by an ancient wall, probably formed by the Mameluke princes, which is now rapidly decaying. This is flanked by towers, but the fosse is either occupied by gardens or filled up with rubbish, and is, consequently, incapable of affording any defence against military operations. It has nine gates: at one of them, on the north, lamps are kept perpetually burning, in commemoration of the prophet Elisha, who is said to have once had his residence here. The castle is situated on the loftiest of the eminences already mentioned, on the north-east side of the city; it is enclosed within a broad and deep ditch, which the Turks consider as rendering it impregnable. From the south it is entered by a bridge of seven arches. At the summit of the hill is a reservoir of great depth, from which the water is raised by a wheel, and is thought to be derived from a spring situated at the distance of five miles. The only real use of the castle, where a garrison is constantly kept, is to form a military depot, and, perhaps, in some degree to overawe the citizens. At a distance, this city, like many others in the east, assumes a fine appearance, in consequence of the numerous mosques, minarets, cupolas, and flat-roofed

eral ap

ance.

Mosques are numerous, but none of them have more Mosques. than one minaret, or steeple, to summon the people to prayers. The mosques are built of freestone, with a dome in the centre, covered with lead. They have each a paved area in front, having a fountain in the middle to supply water for ablutions before prayers, and behind some of them are small gardens. The Greeks, Armenians, Syrians, and Maronites have each a church. The city contains a number of large khans, Khan. or caravansaries, which are buildings of a quadrangular form, of one story in height, having rooms, which serve as chambers, warehouses, and stables, for the accommodation of strangers. Above is a gallery or colonade, from which you enter, by doors, into various rooms, apportioned to merchants, as well as visitors, for the transaction of business. The bazars, or market-places, Bazars are stone buildings, resembling a long gallery, arched or roofed with wood, where small shops are replenished with goods, each different kind of business having a distinct bazar, which is locked up, as well as the streets, after sun-set. There are also coffee-houses, some of which are very handsome, with fountains, and galleries for musicians; and several hummums, or public baths.

Wood and charcoal are used at Aleppo for fuel, the former of which is cheap, though brought on camels from the mountains. Little fuel is made use of, except

Fuel.

Manufac

On the south-west of the city are several lime-kilns, tures, &c. and a manufactory of catgut. On the opposite side of the river, to the westward, is a glass-house for making coarse white glass in the winter. There is likewise a tannery near the river, to the south-west of the city. There is no public burial-ground within the walls, but many without, of great extent, whose white tombs and stones forcibly strike the attention.

Vicinity.

Climate.

At the distance of about eight miles northward, near a village called Heylan, there are two springs, from which this city obtains a plentiful supply of water, which is conveyed by means of an aqueduct, mostly open, but partly subterraneous, and is distributed by earthen or leaden pipes to the gardens, fountains, baths, and private houses. The gardens, both along the banks of the aqueduct, and of the river Kowick, are numerous, and extend many miles. They are subdivided within these enclosures into fields of different dimensions and shapes, bordered with trees and shrubs. Within these enclosures apples, melons, cucumbers, and various roots, are cultivated, besides cotton, tobacco, palma christi, and lucern: in some places barley. There are also plantations of pomegranates, plum and cherry trees, and other fruits of the country. Several considerable quarries are worked in the vicinity of the city, containing a gritty stone, which becomes hard by exposure to the atmosphere in some of the more ancient of these quarries are subterraneous passages, in which the Bedoween Arabs take up their abode during winter. The Aleppo marble is of a yellow colour, but it is made to resemble the red marble of Damascus, by rubbing it with oil, and heating it in a moderate øven. The valley of salt, as it is termed, eighteen miles distant, supplies the city with that invaluable commodity.

The climate of Aleppo may be characterized as, upon the whole, mild. The heat, indeed, is great during the summer months of July and August, though it is generally moderated by westerly breezes. But it is intense when the wind proceeds from the north-north-west, east, north-east, or south-east, and all the inhabitants, both native and foreign, are then oppressed with an excessive lassitude. In general, the air of Aleppo is dry, piercing, and salubrious. The spring commences in the early part of the month of February, about the middle of which the almond-tree blossoms, and the fields become clothed in verdure. In May the corn ripens rapidly into harvest. Refreshing showers fall in the beginning of June, after which drought prevails till the middle of September. From about the close of May to this time the inhabitants usually sleep on their terraces, without sustaining any injury. The severest part of the year is from the middle of December to the latter end of January, when frost is common, though snow is compartively rare. Thunder storms are sometimes experienced in the spring and autumn:

quent, but by no means dangerous, earthquakes. Ploughing is the occupation of September, and is performed by one or two small cows, or a single ass: the earliest wheat is committed to the soil in October, and barley is sown as late as February. The barley harvest is in May, and early in June the corn is entirely gathered. It is separated from the chaff by means of a sledge, fixed on two or three rollers, and armed with iron rings, with serrated edges, sharp enough to cut the straw; the machine being drawn by oxen, mules, or asses, and driven by a man seated on a sledge, the straw is thus chopped, and the corn trodden out. It is at length thrown together in a heap, and divided between the husbandman and the landlord, in a certain stipulated proportion. The granaries consist of subterraneous grottos, with an opening at top, which is covered over with earth, as a protection, when the cavity is filled. The corn is chiefly ground in mills, by mules; there are, however, a few water-mills on the river, and the lower class of people make use of handmills.

Trade is carried on in Aleppo to a very considerable Trade extent, both by Christians and Mahometans. Four caravans proceed annually through Natolia to Constantinople, and others arrive from Bagdad and Bassora, with coffee and India muslins and shawls. The Turks carry on the trade of India, Asia Minor, Constantinople, and Egypt. The exports are cloth, from Antioch, Merdin, and other places; osnaburghs, from Aleppo and Damascus ; and printed cottons, from Diarbekir; galls, drugs, and various other articles. The imports are considerable; cloths, Lyonnese stuffs, and bonnets, from Europe; merceries, indigo, tea, sugar, paper, soap, and numerous coral ornaments. Europe has of late years much declined, and the European establishments in the city consequently reduced.

Commerce with

The inhabitants of Aleppo consist chiefly of Turks Popula and Arabs; many among them, to the amount, perhaps, of four thousand, claim descent from Mahomet, and wear their dress intermixed with green, as a token of this distinction. They are not at present held in very high esteem, owing to their superciliousness and contentious spirit, although, formerly, they were greatly reverenced, and any injury done to them was severely punished. The extent of the population is variously estimated. Dr. Russel, whose calculations ought probably to be most relied upon, states it at 235,000, of which 200,000 are Turks, 30,000 Christians, and 5000 Jews. The population of this place and neighbourhood is thought to be on the decline; many adjacent villages are deserted, in consequence of the exactions practiced on their inhabitants by a despotic and oppressive government. The domestic servants are nearly all Armenians.

Generally speaking, the inhabitants of Aleppo are Ma sedentary in their mode of life and habits, and are somewhat addicted to amusements; not at all disposed to exercise. The men frequent the coffee-houses, where they are entertained with music and dramatic representations. The women often attend the baths, where persons of every class in society are admitted, in an indiscriminate manner, till they are full. At these places music and refreshments are provided, parties of

PPO. pleasure formed, and all the splendour of attire that can be mustered is brought into view. Women are SIA. never seen in the streets after dusk, and at no time unveiled. They are always particularly anxious to keep the crown of the head covered, which scarcely any consideration can induce them to bare. Though society is deemed the most polished here of any part in the Turkish dominions, the females are said to be addicted to intrigue, whenever it can be secretly conducted. There is a disease peculiar to Aleppo, called the

ALERIA, formely Golo, a town situated on the eastern side of the island of Corsica, about 25 miles E. of Corte.

ALERION or ALLERION, in Heraldry, an eagle without feet or beak, and with wings expanded; in this latter point alone an alerion differ from a martlet, the wings of which are closed. ALERT',

ALERT'NESS.

It. All' erta, al' erta, past participle of the Lat. Erigere; Ital. Ergere (Tooke); to erect, to raise up. Raised up, upon the watch, in readiness for action; and therefore active, vigilant, lively.

Thir nobill nymphis maid reverence,
With gestour lively and allairt;

And eftir thair obedience,

Hir grace passit to ane udder pairt.

Burel in Sibbald's Chronicles, v. iii. p. 470.

A little of that alertness and unconcern in the common actions of life, which is usually so visible among gentlemen of the army, and which a campaign or two would infallibly have given him. Spectator, No 566. Not such the alert and active; measure life By its true worth, the comfort it affords, And their's alone seem worthy of the name.

Cowper's Task. The mountain-torrents on every side rushed down the hills in notes of various cadence, as their quantities of water, the declivities of their fall, their distances, or the intermission of the blast, brought the sound fuller, or fainter to the ear; which organ became now more alert. Gilpin's Tour to the Lakes of Cumberland, &c. ALESA, ALESA, or HALESA, in Ancient Geography, a town of Sicily, situated on the Tuscan sea, about 70 miles west from Massana, founded, as Diodorus relates, by Archonides of Herbita, in the year B. c. 403. It was built on an eminence about a mile inland, and was washed by the Alæsas. In course of time it rose to opulence by its maritime enterprise, and by a freedom from taxes granted it by the Romans. It was called, from its founder, Alesa Archonidis, to distinguish it from other towns of Sicily named Alesa. Diod. I. xiv. Solinus, Polyhist. cap. xi. speaks of a fountain in its neighbourhood, whose waters, at the tones of a flute, were raised up, and, as if delighted with the music, swelled over the margin of the fountain.

ALESBURY. See AILESBURY. ALESHAM, or AYLESHAM, a town of Norfolk, on the Thyrn, 121 miles from London, and 12 miles N. E. from Norwich, carrying on a considerable stocking manufactory. There is a mineral spring of some note a mile from the town.

ALESIA, in Ancient Geography, a town of the Mandubii, in Gaul. According to Diodorus, lib. iv. its antiquity was very great, being built by Hercules, when on his return from Spain, and called, from the nature of his warfare, Alesia, from aλŋ, wandering.

The hero chose for its site a lofty hill, which, according to Cæsar's description, was defended by others at a short distance from it, except on the east, where was a plain of about three miles in extent. Its strength was further increased by two rivers, which washed the foot of the hill.

Vercingetorix, in whose influence and warlike temper Cæsar found the most formidable obstacle to his subjugation of Gaul, after many defeats, threw himself into this city, and drew to its defence a force amounting 240,000 infantry and 8000 cavalry. Diodorus says, that Alesia, up to this period, had never been entered by an enemy, and was, in his time, regarded by the nations of Celtic Gaul as the chief place of their country. It was surrendered to Cæsar, after a brave defence, B. c. 53. Cæsar de Bel. Gal. lib. 7. c. lxii. et seq.; Strabo, lib. 4. Pliny, lib. 34. c. xlviii. (edit. Hard), describes the art of silver-plating for the ornaments of horses, as first practiced here. Near the spot where Alesia stood is now Alise, in the department of Cote d'Or.

ALESIÆUM, in Ancient Geography, an inland town of Elis, on the road from the city of that name to Olympia. When Pisa was in existence, Alesiæum was dependant upon it. STRABO, lib. 8.

The

ALESSANDRIA, a fortified town of Italy, on the east bank of the Tanaro. It is a bishop's see, belonging to the archiepiscopal diocese of Turin. Alessandria is a very large and populous town, containing numerous churches, colleges, and religious houses. In 1806 the population was 35,216 inhabitants. town owes its origin to the Lombard league against the Emperor Frederic I. in the twelfth century. It has been repeatedly subject to military attacks, particularly in the year 1706, and more recently during the late French invasion of the Italian states, under Bonaparte. From the year 1796 to 1799, it was in the hands of the French, but subsequently was possessed by the Austrian and Russian forces. The following year, however, in consequence of the famous battle of Marengo, a village in the immediate neighbourhood of this citadel, it was once more occupied by the French invaders, who held it till the year 1814, when it devolved, with other places, to the king of Sardinia, and has since been greatly strengthened. Alessandria is 38 miles from Milan, and 44 from Turin.

ALESSIO, ALES, or LESSIO, a town of the Ngege, in Albania, 12 miles from Durazzo. E. lon. 19°, 36'. N. lat. 42°, 12'.

ALETIS, in Antiquity, a festival celebrated by the Athenians, to appease the shades of Erigone, who, after having discovered, by means of his faithful dog, the place where her father, Icarius, had been buried by his murderers, hung herself, and prayed the gods that