Cape Mesurata.
Entrance of the
Gulf of Syrtis.
Bushaifa Bay.
Mesurata.
Aarar.
The inhabitants of Zoraig are about one hundred in number, and
nothing but water could be procured in any abundance.
Toward the eastern termination of the sand-hills, the rocky coast
gets higher, and when four miles from 'the entrance of the Gulf of
Syrtis, forms three cliffs, which, at a distance, Monsieur L au th ie r.
informs us, appear like as many islands. The eastern one of these
three is Cape Mesurata (the Cephalus Promontorium of Strabo).
T he entrance to the gulf is formed by a low rocky p o in t: a t the
back of it there are groves of date-trees among low sand-hills; and a
mile to the southward is the white mausoleum of M arabut Bushaifa,
which gives name to the bay it overlooks *.
T he re is good landing under the low" point, before mentioned, in
a small sandy bay abreast of a low sand-hill. The bay appears to
b e full of fish, and the seme might here no doubt be hauled to
advantage.
T h e Town of M esurata is about two miles to the southward of the
cape of the same name; it is governed by an Aga, to whom it would
b e found advantageous to make a'small present. Fre sh provision,
fruit, vegetables, and sweet water, may be procured here in abundance.
About ten miles south of Bushaifa there is a solitary date-tree,
overlooking a low sandy tract of coast, bearing the name of Aarar.
Off here, Monsieur Lauthier informs us, a t two leagues distant from
the shore, there is a rocky bank, a league in length from east to
west, with from fourteen to seventeen feet Water upon it. The date-
tree, the position of which is well determined, will serve as a mark
for this bank.
Leaving Aarar and coasting southward, the shore is very low and
sandy, with apparently no danger. A low ridge of hills extends
along the coast from one to three miles distance from it. Some few
of these hills are covered with vegetation, and now and then a
straggling flock o f goats or sheep may b e met w ith ; but otherwise
no supplies of any kind are to be procured until you arrive at
* Monsieur Lauthier informs ns that there is good anchorage in this bay in six
fathoms water, muddy bottom, at a quarter of a league distance from the shore.
Zafferan—firewood excepted, which may be obtained from the
wrecks upon the beach in large quantities.
Jebbah is the first conspicuous object that presents itself after Kusser el Jebbah.
Aarar. I t is an old Arab building, upon an eminence about four
miles from the coast. Its position is well determined, and its
distance from the beach ascertained by a base purposely measured.
The whole of this coast is very low, and in blowing weather
should be avoided, as there appears to b e a great set down upon it
from the north-east, judging from the number of wrecks, masts and
yards, &c., that are thrown upon the beach, on this side of the gulf
only—none being seen on the eastern shore.
Until we arrived a t Ja ireed, in latitude 31° 23' 27" N., we did not Shoals,
perceive any dangers lying off the coast; but at that place we
observed, the sea breaking heavily over two shoals, distant from the
shore about a mile and a quarter *.
From Ja ireed the coast trends more easterly, b u t still continues
low and sandy, with small hillocks a t a short distance from the coast.
When near the latitude of 31° 16' N ., ships must avoid some
dangerous shoals that branch off from the shore a t Jiraff, and extend Dangerous Shoal,
westward seven or eight miles—their most distant part from the
shore being about two mile s: the sea broke heavily oyer them
when we passed, but within them it was more quiet; and if a p a ssage
should b e found between the breakers, a tolerably secure
anchorage will in all probability be discovered.
Eastward of-Jiraff the coast alters its character: the shore is
rocky, the land gets more hilly, and is covered with vegetation.
In one part, in latitude 31° 12' 48" N ., some high sand-hills, surmounted
with small tufts of trees, will b e seen overlooking the
b e a ch ; at the foot of. them there is a smaU port .called Mersa Zafferan, Mersa Zafferan.
in which boats may find shelter with all winds; but it will be difficult
to find, in consequence of there being no object to distinguish it
from the other ports of the coast, except indeed the wall of a building
which stands upon the beach be seen protruding through the
* This distance is by estimation.