396 PTOLEMETA TO MERGE.

celebrated Shereef, but of which so little is now remaining that the plans of the buildings could not be satisfactorily ascertained.

The extensive plain (or valley) of Merge, for it is equally one and the other, may be considered as occupying a part of the territory within the ancient limits of Barca; and before we proceed with the details of our journey, it will be proper to turn our attention to the imperfect notices which have come down to us of the celebrated city of that name. The limits assigned to the district of Barca by the Arab historians and geographers comprise not only the whole of the Cyrenaica, but, according to some, the whole tract of country between Mesurata and Alexandria; while its actual limits (as we have stated elsewhere) commence at the bottom of the Syrtis, extending themselves eastward as far as Derna, and, as we were also informed, to the eastern extremity of the Bashaw of Tripoli’s dominions. The ancient country of Barca was, however, confined to the western parts of the Cyrenaica, and extended no farther in that direction than to the eastern limits of the Hesperides. The port of Barca, under the Lagidm, received the name of Ptolemais, and we have the authorities of Strabo and Pliny for considering the last-mentioned city and that of Barca as the same*. Ptolemy has, however, distinguished Barca from Ptolemais, and Scylax has described the formei of these cities as situated at the distance of one hundred stadia fiom the sea; so that no doubt can remain of their having * Ei9 7) ■zrgoTsov, vvv Ss riToXsptais-. — (Strabo, Lib. xvii.) Deinde Ptolemais, antiquo nomine Barce.— (Hist. Nat. Lib. v. c. 5.)

So also Stephanas ; Bocpxy,, A,Cuv, >ca,