BENGAZI. 339 CHAPTER XII.

Remarks on the Soil of Bengazi and the Country in its Neighbourhood — Distinction of Sex -A in the Palm-tree, &c., noticed by the Ancients and by Mahometan Writers — Persian Anecdote 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 Tower 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 with Greek Inscriptions— Teuchira a Town of Barca — Walls of the City repaired by Justinian — No Port observable at Teuchira Mistake of Bruce in confounding Teuchira with Ptolemeta — Good Supply of fresh Water at Teuchira The excavated Pombs of the ancient City used as Dwelling-houses by the Arabs of the Neighbourhood — Indisposition of our Chaous (or Janissary) — Route from Teuchira to Ptolemeta— Remains at Ptolemeta— Port and Cothon of the ancient City— Other Remains observable there — Ptolemaic Inscriptions — Picturesque Ravines in the Neighbourhood of Ptolemeta — Position of the City — Remains of Bridges observed there — Advantages of its Site — Extreme Drought at Ptolemeta, recorded by Procopius — Reparation of the Aqueducts and Cisterns by the Emperor Justinian — Existing Remains of an extensive Cistern at Ptolemeta, probably among those alluded to by Procopius— State of the Town, its Solitude and Desolation— Luxuriant Vegetation which encumbered its Streets when the Place was first visited by our Party — Change of Scene on returning to it in Summer-time.

The soil of the Hesperides does not now produce that variety of fruit which we find that it did in the days of its prosperity * ; but the palm and the fig-tree still flourish there in great abundance, and it is merely from the want of attention, and not from any actual * Vide Scylax, Theophrastus, and others. 2X2