88 JOURNEY FROM so little importance, that whether its site be fixed at ZelTten or Selin is a matter of very trivial consideration.

On the evening of the succeeding day we reached the little village of Zouia, which is somewhat resembling, but very superior to, Zeliten.

After quitting Selin we had divided our party, and leaving the camels to pursue the direct road, we proceeded along the sand-hills which flank the beach, and arrived at an inconsiderable collection of hovels situated immediately on the coast. This place is called Zoraig, and contains, we were told, about an hundred persons, who cultivate just sufficient ground to supply themselves and their families. They were, however, provided with several wells of good water, which they distributed by means of troughs over the cultivated ground. We here dismounted to partake of some dates and water, which were cordially offered to us by an old man of the village ; and we soon learned from him that the Adventure had been there several days, and that a party of the officers had been on shore. Two little ports, if such they may be called, are here formed by reefs of rocks lying off the village, and the natives have dignified them with the titles of Mersa Gusser and Mersa Zoraig *.

On the following day we entered Mesurata by a circuitous route shaded thickly with date-trees, and enclosed between well-furnished gardens.

We had now reached the eastern boundary of the - cultivated districts, where they terminate on the margin of the Syrtis ; and as this was the place where we were to change our camels, we pitched the * Mersa is the Arab term for a port or harbour.