T. E. Lawrence’s Undergraduate Dissertation – Page 178

The castle is entered (36) at D by means of a plain gate, and then a vaulted passage, almost dark, as far as the tower J, where is a large trap-machicoulis in the roof and other defences. To reach the inner ward one must go further, to the tower L, also in a dark vaulted passage, ascending steeply. To surprise this entry would therefore be extremely (1) difficult. There are only three or four loopholes to give light and air, and the change from the glare of the sun without is most confusing. The upper gate has a portcullis, but generally it is very like the Hospital gate at Banias: through it one enters a small courtyard, opposite the great hall of P/m || the castle N. Another flight of stairs gives on the upper 34 (36) court K still unencumbered with houses. From it lead up more Photo steps to G, the platform uniting the three great towers that L'IX. together form the donjon. They overtop by many feet any other tower in the fortress, and are magnificently built of huge blocks of stone. The governor of the province now inhabits them, and his harem and his divan, and his own private rooms rather obscure the arrangement of the Eastern half of the platform. The Western half of it, Gl, was however vaulted (L.ix) From these towers the great wall, known to the Arab historians as "the mountain" slopes outwards and downwards -------------------------------------------------------- (1) It is not easy even to-day to stumble up the uneven steps, in a litter of pariah dogs and goats.