CONTENTS.

xiii

in Bengazi and its vicinity — ^Singular cause of Alarm among a Party of Arab Shekhs —

Arab notions of decorum and propriety contrasted with those of European Nations — Bengazi supposed to occupy the Site of Berenice and Hesperis — Existing Remains there — Little

regard manifested by Turks and Arabs for the relics of Antiquity — Probable Limits of

Berenice — Quarries, and singular Chasms in its Neighbourhood — Gardens of Hesperides — Position of the Gardens according to Scylax, Pliny, and Ptolemy — Conjectures of Gosselin

and others respecting them — Circumstances which appear to favour our position of the Gardens — Lakes and Subterranean Caverns in the Neighbourhood of Bengazi, (or Berenice) — Concealed Body of Water observed in one of the latter — Examination of the Caverns —

Remarks of the Bey respecting it — The Subterranean Stream in question considered as the

River Lathon, or Lethe — Testimonies of the Ancients on this point — Supposed Communica-

tion of the Subterranean Stream with the Lake adjoining the Harbour of Bengazi — Signifi-

cation of the term Lathon alluded to — Further Remarks in confirmation of our suggested Position of the River, and of its probable Communication with the Lake above mentioned —

Remarks of Strabo and Cellarius ou the subject — Temple of Venus, and Lake Tritonis of

Strabo — Remarks on the name Berenice — Total ignorance of the Arabs of Bengazi witli respect to the former celebrity of their City — Pleasing little Fable of Kazwini, on the

changes which take place in the Nature and Appearance of Places, and the little knowledge which remains, after a lapse of time, of their former Condition, even on the spots where they existed - - - - _ . . -oei

CHAPTER XII.

Remarks on the Soil of Bengazi and the Country in its Neighbourhood — Distinction of Sex

in the Palm-tree, &c., noticed by the Ancients and by Mahometan Writers — Persian Anec-

dote of a Love-sick Date-tree — Remarks of Shaw on the Propagation and Treatment of the Palm— Arab Mode of cultivating the Sandy Tracts in the Neighbourhood of Bengazi— Journey to Carcora — Completion of the Coast-line from that Place to Bengazi — Return to

Bengazi, and Departure for Teuchira and Ptolemeta — Description of the Country between

Bengazi and these Places — Remains observable in this Track — Correspondence of the ToAver

called Gusser el Towel with that of Cafez, mentioned by Edrisi —Probable Site of Adriane

— Arrival at Birsis — Remains in its neighbourhood, at Mably (or Mabny), considered as those of Neapolis— Hospitality of the Arabs of Birsis — Remains of Teuchira— Position of

the City— Quarries without the Walls covered Avith Greek Inscriptions— Teuchira a ToAvn

of Barca— Walls of the City repaired by Justinian — No Port observable at Teuchira— Mis-

take of Bruce in confounding Teuchira Avith Ptolemeta— Good Supply of fresh Water at Teuchira The excavated Tombs of the ancient City used as DAvelliug-houses by the Arabs of the Neighbourhood — Indisposition of our Chaous (or Janissary) — Route from Teu-

chira to Ptolemeta Remains at Ptolemeta Port and Cothon of the ancient City — Ocher

Remains observable there — Ptolemaic Inscriptions — Picturesque Ravines in the Neighbour-