TRIPOLY TO BENGAZI.

193 and Cyrene. It was at Charax that the Carthaginians exchanged their wine for the silphium, and the hquor which was extracted from it, (so we translate the passage, reversing the order)* ; neither of which, from the value attached to these commodities, were allowed to be exported from the Cyrenaica by individuals ; and were consequently disposed of with great caution and secrecy to the traders of Carthage who assembled at Charax to treat for them.

As the identity of the fortress at Bengerwad with the tower of Euphrantas may scarcely, perhaps, be considered as decidedly estabhshed ; it will probably here appear strange that we shoidd point out the vicinity of the ruins above mentioned to Bengerwad as one of the reasons why we imagine them to be those of Charax.

But whether the tower of Euphrantas be placed at Bengerwad or not, we cannot consider that place as any other than a boundary ; and as Charax was evidently a frontier-towm, and must be looked for somewhere in this neighbourhood, we may assume the vicinity of the remains in question to the only spot which we have met with which may decidedly be termed a boundary, as a reason why they are probably those of Charax. This once allowed, it will be the more readily admitted that the ruin at Bengerwad is very likely to be that of the tower of Euphrantas ; for Charax, as before stated, is the first place which is mentioned by Strabo after that fortress, and may therefore be identified with the first town to be met with in passing from the * Eit’ aWos TOTCos xaXovjxsvos — u si/.7toBico ejdoivto Kapx.'wSovioi xof/.ioi/rss oivov, StVTKpOgTlO/ljtEVOl Se 07T0V X(Zt (TlX(plOV TMH SX K.VVWIS XncGOC TiraaXO/AlOVTiUV' Lib. xvii.

p. 688.