338 BENGAZI.

as ignoi'ant as ourselves. In visiting the same place five hundred years afterwards, I could not perceive a single trace of the city ; and asked of a countryman, whom I saw cutting clover, where it stood, and how long it had been destroyed. What nonsense are you asking me ? said the person whom I addressed : these lands have never been any otherwise than you see them. Why, returned I, was there not formerly here a magnificent and populous city ? — We have never seen one, replied the man, and our fathers have never mentioned to us anything of the kind, “ Five hundred years afterwards, as I passed by the spot, I found that the sea had covered it ; and, perceiving on the beach a party of fishermen, I asked them how long it had been ovei'flowed.

“ It is strange, answered they, that a person of your appearance should ask us such a question as this ; for the place has been at all times e.\actly as it is now. What, said I, was there not at one time dry land in the spot where the sea is at present ? — Certainly not, that we know of, answered the fishermen, and we never heard our fathers speak of any such circumstance.

“ Again, I passed by the place, after a similar lapse of time, — the sea had disappeared — and I inquired of a man whom I met at what period this change had taken place. He made me the same answer as the others had done before — and, at length, on returning once more to the place, after the lapse of another five hundred years, I found that it was occupied by a flourishing city, more populous, and more rich in magnificent buildings, than that which I had formerly seen ! When I inquired of its inhabitants concerning its origin, I was told that it lost itself in the darkness of antiquity ! We have not the least idea, they said, when it was founded, and our forefathers knew no more of its oi’igin than ourselves !” — (Chrestomathie Arabe, vol.iii. p. 419.)