in eastern countries, a place appointed for receiving and loading caravans. It is commonly a large square building, with a spacious court in the centre; and under the arches or piazzas that surround it the merchants and those who travel with them take up their lodgings. Over the gates that lead into the court there are sometimes little rooms, which are let out at a high price. Though caravanserais in the East serve in place of inns, there is this radical difference between them, that in general the traveller finds in a caravanserai neither food for himself, nor provender for his cattle. There is no caravanserai, however, without a well or spring of water. The existence of these buildings is chiefly owing to the charity of the Mohammedans; and while there, the persons and the property of travellers are secure. There are also caravanserais where most things may be obtained for money; and as the profits of these are considerable, the magistrates of the cities to whose jurisdiction they belong take care to store them well. At the departure of each caravan, an inspector fixes the price of the night's lodgings, from which there is no appeal.