TRIPOLY TO BENGAZI. 13

provided with ramparts, on which are planted a number of guns quite

sufficient to make themselves tolerably respected, were it not that

the impertinent interference of rust, and the occasional want of car-

riages for the guns, might contribute to prevent their effect. The

castle is built at the south-eastern angle of the city, close to the

water’s edge ; and may be said to connect the line of ramparts along the beach with that which encloses the town to the southward. The

walls of the castle are unusually high, and have been fortunately made to inchne a good deal inwards : we say fortunately, for so bad

is the state of repair, in which the exterior is kept, that without this convenient inclination to the centre, they would not probably be

standing at all. Yet they are certainly of considerable thick-

ness ; and it is owing to the very unworkmanlike manner in which

the building has been from time to time augmented, for we ought

not to call it repaired, that its strength has been materially dimi- nished

Appearances, however, are by no means disregarded ; and the sur-

But Leo Africanus, who flourished at the same period with Dragut, at the beginning

of the 16th century, has mentioned the walls of Tripoly as being high and handsome,

though not very strong ; and as the existing walls of the town, if they be really those of

Dragut, bear all the appearance of having once been very solid, we may perhaps sup-

pose that those mentioned by Leo were standing before the present ones were constructed.

The greatest length of the city, including the . walls, may be said to be about 1360

yards, and its extreme breadth about a thousand yards.

* The happy confusion of buildings which surmount the walls of the castle, raised at various times for the convenience and accommodation of the royal family, together with the little world which is contained within its limits, have been well, and correctly

described in Tully’s Memoirs.