APPENDIX. XV Eight miles westward from Derna, at two miles distance from the shore, there are three small rocky islets, which must be avoided.

The whole of this coast is very thinly inhabited.

Derna is situated at the mouth of a large fiumara, and is surrounded by clusters of date-trees, which are sufficient of themselves to distinguish the place ; but it may also be known by a ruined castle upon a ridge above the town, on the western side of the fiumara, and a marabut, which stands upon a point, a mile from the town.

There is a good roadstead about a mile and a half off shore, and some shelter for small craft close in shore with the wind from northnorth-west to south-east ; but they cannot remain with a north-east or easterly wind, nor should they hang on too long in the event of the wind coming in, or they will find it difficult to weather either of the capes.

Supplies of fresh beef, vegetables, fruit, and water may be had in abundance. Cattle are from seven to nine dollars a head, and fine sheep about a dollar a-piece.

The town is the residence of Sidi Mahommed, Bey of the district, and eldest son of the Bashaw of Tripoly ; to whom it might be found advantageous to make some little present, and to notice by firing a salnte.

Derna is not at all defended ; there is an old fort upon the sandy point, but the guns are not in order, and those which once occupied the turrets of the castle upon the hill are thrown down and rendered useless by corrosion — the only annoyance boats attempting to land could find, would be from the few muskets which the inhabitants might furnish.

The best landing place is to the eastward of the date-trees in a sandy bay round a low point about half a mile eastward of the marabut. Some rocks lie off this point which boats should avoid.

At Derna, as at Bengazi, the most prevalent wind during the summer is along shore ; but here it comes from the west north-west.

The north wind appears to diverge at Ras Sem, and takes the direction of Bengazi on one side, and Alexandria on the other ; for which Rocky Islets.

Derna.

Supplies.

Strength.

Landing.

Prevalent winds.