X CONTENTS.

in the appearance of the country — Arrival at ZafFran — Grateful verdure of its Pasturage — Remains at Zalfran considered as those of Aspis — Their nature and appearance described — Port called Mersa Zaffran 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 Zaffran - 113 CHAPTER VII.

Remarks on the City of Sort, or Sert, of Edrisi and other Arab Geographers — Description of it by Leo Africanus — Position of Sert, on the authority of Abulfeda — Zaffran considered as Asna — Remarks of Major Rennell on these Places — Remains at Medindt Sultkn considered as those of Sort — Columns and other Remains described by Signor Della Celia, in the Neighbourhood of Zaffran — Train of Argument adopted by the Doctor on this occasion — Remarks of the same Writer on the Tower of Euphrantas, and the Town of Charax, as laid doum by Strabo — Nature of the Inscriptions on the Columns alluded to by Signor Della Celia — Formidable Appearance of the Coast at Zaffran — General Appearance of the Country in its Neighbourhood — Species of Crocus abounding there — Obliging Treatment of our Party by the Arabs of Zaffran — Arrival at Medinet Sultkn — Description of its Remains — Further Remarks on the Tower of Euphrantas — Arrival at Nehim — Aukward Situation of Shekh Mahommed el Ddbbah — Visit of the Dubbah to our Tent — Object of it discovered — Departure of Shekh Mahommed, well pleased with the result of his Visit - - - 150 CHAPTER VIII.

Leave Nehim — Arrive at Boosaida — Shekh Hamed Shakshak — Return of Shekh Mahommed — Revival of the Report above mentioned — Motive for renewing it — Discharge our Mesurata Camel-drivers — Treaty with the Dubbah for others — Interested conduct of Shekh Mahommed— Commencement of another Salt-Lake at Sharfa — Easy mode of shifting Quarters practised by the Arabs — Tlieir manner of travelling — Termination of the Lake — Arrive at Shegga — Remains of Forts observed there — Other Remains in its neighbourhood — Abundant Pasturage at Shegga — Fortress of Bengerwad — Peculiarities of its Position — Bengerwad considered as the Castle of Euphrjintas — Objections to this supposition — Reasons in favour of it — Leave Wady Shegga — Cross a Tract of Red Sand — Spacious Bay at Ras Howeijah — Good Anchorage probably found there — Remains of an ancient Tonm near Ras Howeijah considered as those of Charax — Trade of Charax alluded to, as mentioned by Strabo — Further reasons for placing the Tower of Euphrantas at Bengerwad — Allusion to the barter of Silphium at Charax — Emendations of Strabo’s Text proposed by Signor Della Celia — Arrive at Hudia — Alleged Origin of this Name as applied to the place in question — Hudia lately infested by a formidable Band of Robbers — Precautions of our Arab Escort to prevent any Attack — Rigorous Measures of Mahommed Bey apparently very necessary — Remarkable Hill