TRIPOLY TO BENGAZI.

35 occupy the position of any ancient town, we should suppose it to stand on that of Abrotonum.

But it will be found, upon inquiry, that there are considerable difficulties attendant on such a conclusion. F or Abrotonum is stated by Scylax to have been two days’ sail from Leptis Magna * ; and the distance between Tagiura and Lebida (already identified with Leptis ISIagna) is no more than 59 miles.

The mean rate allowed by Major Kennell, for the sailing of the vessels of the ancients, is 35 miles per day ; so that the distance between Leptis Magna and Abrotonum should, at this rate, be 70 miles. It is true that the rate of Nearchus, in the Red Sea and in the Persian Gulf, as estimated by the same author, is no more than 22| and 30 miles ; but this was occasioned by circumstances not attendant on voyages in general, and must be considered (says the Major) as an unusually low rate.

Another difficulty arises from the mention of Abrotonum as a port, as well as a city, in the passage we have quoted from Scylax ; for Tagiura cannot be said to possess one.

It will here immediately occur to the reader, that Tripoly has a very good port ; and that the distance of that town from Lebida will answer remarkably well with the distance of Scylax in question : for Tripoly may be estimated at 67 miles from Lebida, which will be question might as easily have been brought from Lebida, as the materials employed in building the town of Tripoly.

* Avo ISieccTloKsais, fns ]T§tx(px(3c 7lo\n. 'Tavln tia.xtlXyis K1C0 Ss AfgoTOvov ‘KoXis xai Xi/a»iv. Tau7n o wocgajrXuf f/itas.