18 JOURNEY FROM

esting result will be afforded by the inquiry than any which relates

to the quantity of corn produced at Tripoly. We find, for instance,

that the lands to the southward of Tripoly (we mean those in the

immediate neighbourhood of the town) were subject, in the time of

the African Geographer, to be overflowed for some extent by the

sea ; while the same parts are now above the level of the water,

which never reaches high enough to cover them *. “ iVll the country

about Tripoly” (says Leo Africanus) “ is sandy hke that of Numidia; and the reason of this is, that the sea enters freely towards the south-

ward, (entra assai verso mezzogiorno,) so that the lands which ought

to be cultivated are aU covered with water. The opinion of the

inhabitants,” he continues, with respect to this riviera, is, that there

was formerly a considerable tract of land extending to the north-

ward ; but that for many thousand years the sea has been advancing

and covering it ; which is observable,” he adds, “ and known to be the case, on the coast of IMonasteer, as well as at Mahdia, Sfax, Gabes,

and the island of Girbe ; with other cities to the eastward, whose

shores have but little depth of water ; so that one may walk a mile

or two into the sea without being up to the waist. Wherever this

occurs,” (continues Leo) “ such places are said to be considered as

parts of the soil overflowed by the sea (that is, not within the ori-

ginal bounds of the latter,) “ and the inhabitants of Tripoly,” he tells

“ us, are of opinion, that their city stood formerly more to the north-

* Part of the sandy plain to the south-eastward is, however, occasionally flooded dur-

ing the prevalence of strong northerly gales, and there is a tract of marshy ground, to the westward of the town, between the cultivated parts and the sea.