hood of Ptolemeta—Position of the City—Remains of Bridges observed there—Advantages
of its Site—Extreme Drought at Ptolemeta, recorded by Procopius—Reparation of the Aque-
ducts and Cisterns by the Emperor Justinian—Existing Remains of an extensive Cistern at
Ptoleimeta, probably among those alluded tp by Procopius-—State of the Town, its Solitude
and Desolation—Luxuriant Vegetation which encumbered its Streets when the Place was
first visited by our Party—Change of Scene on returning to it in Summer-time - 339
CHAPTER X III.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE CITIES* OF TEUCHIRA AND PTOLEMETA.
Actual Condition of the City.of Teuchira—Perfect State apd great Strength of its Walls—
Suggested Period of their Erection-—Mode in which they are constructed—Gates of the City
—Narrow Passage communicating with them—-Probable Advance of the Sea at Teuchira—
Line described by the Walls—Estimated Circuit of them according to Signor Della Celia
—Greek Inscriptions cut in various parts of them—Suggestions of Signor Della Celia
respecting them—Actual Nature of the Inscriptions—-Excavated Tombs in the Quarries of
Teuchira—Egyptian Names of Months generally adopted by the Inhabitants of the City—
General Nature of the Plans of the Tombs—Some of the Bodies appear to have been burnt,
and others to have been buried entire—No Difference appears to have obtained at Teuchira
between the Modes of Burial adopted by its Greek and Roman Inhabitants—Encumbered
State of what are probably the earliest Tombs—Solitary instance of a Painted Tomb at
Teuchira—Remains of Christian Churches, and other Buildings within the Walls—Disposition
of the Streets—Remains without the Walls—No Statues, or Remains of them, discovered
by our Party at Teuchira-—Remarks on the Wall of Ptolemeta—Remains of a Naustothmos,
or Naval Station, observed there—Other Remains of Building on the Beach near the Station
—Further traces of the City-Wall—Dimensions of Ptolemeta—Remains of Theatres found
there—Description o f the larger one—Ruins described by Bruce as part of an Ionic Temple
—Othef Remains in the Neighbourhood of these—Remarks on the Style of some of the
Buildings of Ptolemeta, as contrasted with those of Egypt and Nubia—Probable Datei of its
• existing Remains - - - - - - - 367
CH APT ER XIV.
JOURNEY FROM PTOLEMETA TO MERGE.
Departure from Ptolemeta—Romantic and Picturesque Appearance of the Road—Luxuriant
Vegetation which adorned it—-Arrive at the Summit of the first Range—Bedouin Tents
on the Plain above—Pleasing Manners- of their Inhabitants—Character of the Scenery
on the Summit of the Lower Range—Beauty of the Route continues—Arrive at the
Plain of Merge—Character and Position of the Plain—Our Camel^Drivers refuse to proceed—
Artful Conduct of Abou-Bukra—Appeal to Bey Halil—Projected Mission to Derna
—Abou-Bukra oomes to Terms, and brings Ms Camels for the Journey—Pools of Fresh
Water collected Sn ithe Plain of Merge—Use made of them by the Arabs—Prevalence
of a Virulent Cutaneous Disease among the Arab Tribes of Merge and its Neighbourhood
—Remains of a Town at one extremity of the Plain—Remarks on the District and City
of Barca—Testimonies of Strabo, Pliny, Ptolemy, and Seylax, respecting the Port of
Barca—Remarks on the Position of the City of that Name—Arab Accounts of Rarea—
Edrisi, Abulfeda, &c.—Unsatisfactory Nature of the Accounts in Question—Mode of reconciling
the Arab Accounts o f Barca with those of Scylax—Suggested Position of the Ancient
City—Peculiarity of Soil attributed to Barca—-Observations on its Produce and Resources—
State of Barca under the Arabs—Decay of the Ancient City after the building of Ptolemais
on the Site of its Port—The Barcaeans remarkable for their Skill in the Management of
Horses uaad Chariots—Their Country formerly celebrated for its excellent Breed of Horses-—
Degeneracy of the present Breed—Account of Barca by Herodotus-—Other Accounts of its
. Origin—-Siege and Plunder of the City by the Persians under Amasis—Subsequent state of
the City till the building of Ptolemais - - 386
CH APT ER XV.
JOURNEY FROM MERGE TO CYRENE.
Departure from Merge—Deep Marks of Charjot-wheels on the Stony Road indicative of an
ancient Track—Valley of BogrMa—Ancient Wells observed there—Valley of Hareebe—
Beauty and Luxuriance of the Country continue—Roses of the Cyrenaiea mentioned by
Athenseus as celebrated for the excellence of their Perfume—Oil (or Ointment) of Roses
made at Cyrene in.the time of Berenice (probably the Daughter of Magas)—Difficulty and
Danger of some Parts of the Road—Apprehensions of our Arab Conductors—They, appear to
have been groundless^—Arrive at Marghd—Bad State of the Road continues—Quarrel
between Abou-Bukra and one of our Servants—Consequences of the Quarrel—Departure of
Abou-Bukra—Continue our Route alone and succeed in finding the right Track—Return of
Abou-Bukra and his people—Satisfactory Termination of the Disturbance—Oppressive
Sirocco Wind—Nature .of the Country on approaching'Cyrene—First Appearance of a Plant
resembling the Daucus, or Wild Carrot—Resemblance of this Plant to the Silphium, as
expressed on ancient Coins-—Points in which it differs from.it—Remarks on the Silphium as
mentioned by ancient Writers—Testimony of Herodotus,. Arrian, Theophrastus, Pliny, Athe-
naeus—Bill of Fare of the Kings of Persia, stated byPolyaenus to have been discovered in the
royal Palace by Alexander the Great—Silphium mentioned in this among ¡other .articles'of
Food—Description of the Plant by Theophrastus and Pliny—Celebrity and. Scarcity of the