TRIPOLY TO BENGAZI.

113 CHAPTEll VI.

Entrance of the Syrtis — Extensive Lake, or Marsh, described by Strabo — Remarks of Strabo compared with the actual appearance and extent of the Marsh — Remains considered as those of the ancient Naval Station, described by Strabo, at the Mouth of the Lake — Appearance of another Station more to the northward — Gulf of Zuca— Remarks of Signor Della Celia connected with it — Resemblance of the names Zuehis and Zuca — Non- existence of the Gulf of Zuca in the Greater Syrtis— Error of D’Anville and modern Geographers on this point — Remarks of Signor Della Celia on the terms Marsh and Lake, as applied to the body of water mentioned by Strabo — Dimensions of the existing Marsh Alleged danger of crossing it — Insulated spots in several parts of the Marsh, corresponding with the accounts of Strabo — Arrival at Sooleb — Appearance of Pasturage in this neighbourhood— Liberality of Shekh Mahommed — Cause of it ascertained — Sooleb occupies the place assigned in modern charts to the Gulf of Zuca — Continuance of the Marsh Remains near Mahada called Kusser el Jebbah — Story connected with them related by the Dubbah Unwillingness of our Arab Guides to cross the Marsh Cause of this ascertained Narrow escape of two of our party— Nature of the soil in this neighbourhood— French Inscription left by the boats of the Chevrette— Another left by the barge of the Adventure— Arrive at Mahad Hassan, probably the Turris Hassan of Edrisi — Remains at Mahad Hassan— Arrive at Giraff, where the Marsh terminates altogether— Refractory conduct of our Camel-drivers — Improvement in the appearance of the country — Arrival at Zaffran— Grateful verdure of its Pasturage— Remains at Zaffran considered as those of Aspis — Their nature and appearance described — Port called Mersa ZafFrkn considered as that of Aspis — Difficulties attending this position — Remains on the Beach — Supposed Date of the Buildings at Zaffran— Remarks connected with them— Castles mentioned by Leo Africanus — Construction of the Forts at Zaffrhn.

On quitting the groves and gardens of Mesurata for the wilds of the Greater Syrtis, the first object which presents itself, in the level tract of country already mentioned, is the extensive marsh described by Strabo as occurring after the Cephalas Promontorium. It has not now the character of an uninterrupted sheet of water, as it appears to have had when seen by this geographer, Q