TRIPOLY TO BENGAZI.

143 their oppressors, or of recovering their ancient inheritance. It must also be observed, that, however worthless and insignificant the regions of the Syrtis might possibly appear, to the inhabitants of more favoured countries, there are parts of them which must always have been eagerly coveted by the wanderers of the desert which bounds them to the southward ; since the advantages which they are occasionally found to afford, though consisting merely in a little fresh water, and a few spots of scanty vegetation, would naturally be objects of great attraction to those who had seldom the opportunity of finding either. From the sudden, but unskilful, attacks of these people, the forts and stations of the Syrtis would have been sufficient defence ; and they would also have been more convenient for the troops than the usual Koman encampment, greatly contributing at the same time, to facilitate the communication of one part of the country with another, by ensuring a good supply of water, and serving as dep6ts for stores and provisions. We must not, however, venture decidedly to assert, that the Syrtis was unprovided with buildings of this nature before the occupation of the country by the Romans ; for, without mentioning those of Euphrantas and Automala, we find that castles were in use among the natives of Northern Africa before that period ; and if they are known to have been previously erected in other parts of the coast, they might equally have existed in the Syrtis*.

* AtSvuiv Sa Toiy ss wyovs xai ipgoygia (a TtoXXa. 5jv av rig xaraipat'yoi/ffiv. — Appian Hiat. de rebus Punicis, lib. viii. p. 101.

Diodorus also speaks of their castles near the watering-places. — Lib. iii. p. 128.

Poir 5'a Si/vacTauf avTOJv zioXsii jj,ev ro auvoXov ovy( vTCapyovsi, nvgyoi Sa nXwiov tuv j/SaTtav, air avs awoTiSavrai ra arXeovaovra rvis cotp-nXiias.