CHAPTER VII.
Remarks on the City of Sort, or Sert, of Edrisi and other Arab G e o g r a p h e r s — Description of
it by Leo Africanus—Position of Sert, on the Authority of Abulfeda—Zaffran considered as
Asna—Remarks of Major Rennell on these Places—Remains at Medinet Sultan considered
as those of Sort—Columns and other Remains described by Signor Della Colla, in the
Neighbourhood of Zaffran—Train of Argument adopted by the Doctor on this Occasion
Remarks of the same Writer on the Tower of Euphrantas, and the Town of Charax, as laid
down by Strabo—Nature of the Inscriptions on the Columns alluded to by Signor Della
Celia—-Formidable Appearance of the Coast at Zaffran—-General Appearance of the Country
in its Neighbourhood—Species of Crocus abounding there—Obliging Treatment of our Party
by the Arabs of Zaffran—Arrival at Medmdt Sulthn—Description of its Remains—Further
Remarks on the Tower of Euphrantas—Arrival at Nehim—Aukward Situation of bhekh
Mahommed el D u b b a h—Visit of the Ddbbah to our Tent—Object of it discovered Departure
of Shekh Mahommed, well pleased with the result of his Visit.
I t is in the neighbourhood of Zaffran (if the measurements of Ednsi
be correct) that we must look for the remains of the city of Sort or
Sert. They are placed by this geographer at two hundred and thirty
Arabic, or two hundred and forty-six geographic, miles from Tripoly:
at least such is the distance given in the gross; for the detail (as
Major Rennell has already observed) allows no more than two
hundred and ten Arabic miles, or two hundred and twenty-two
geographic.
The first distance, of two hundred and forty-six geographic miles,
would carry us seven miles beyond Zaffran, and within three of
Jedeed, which is ten miles to the eastward ot Zaffran.
The distance in detail, or two hundred and twenty-two geographical
miles, would bring us within two miles of Jiraff, and fourteen
beyond Mahad Hassan; while the number of days allotted by
Edrisi, for the journey in question from Tripoly to Sort, which is
eleven, would give a distance (on the computation of Major Rennell)
of two hundred geographic miles only; and this would bring us
within six miles of Mahad Hassan, that is, six miles to the westward
of that place. These measurements, considered with reference to
the places enumerated, would induce us to place the city of Sort
either at Mahad Hassan, or at Zaffran, or perhaps in the neighbourhood
of Jedeed; for it is at these places that the greatest
assemblage of ruins may be observed.
To the westward of Mahad Hassan is the marsh, and at Jiraff
there are nothing but sand-hills. Between Jedeed and Shuaisha *
there are a good many scattered ground-plans, apparently of slightly-
built dwelling-houses (which seem to be those pointed out by
Signor Della Celia as the remains of the Charax of Strabo,) and
many insulated forts, and other scattered remains of building, may
be observed on the road from Jedeed to Medìnét Sultàn.
I t appears, on the authority of Leo Africanus, that there was
nothing more remaining, in his time, of the city of Sort (or, as he
writes it, Sert,) than a few inconsiderable vestiges of the walls f ;
and, if this statement is to be taken literally, it will scarcely be
# In this neighbourhood we must look for the Macomades Syrtis of the Itinerary.
+ Serte (says Leo) è una città antica, edificata, come alcuni vogliono, da gli Egitti,
e secondo altri dai Romani, benché siano alcuni da oppinione che ella fosse edificata da
gli Africani. Come si fu, hora è rovinata, e credesi che la distrussero i Mahumettani ;
ancor che Ibnu Rachik, historico, dice dai Romani ; ne altro in lei si vede fuòri che
qualche picciolo vestìgio delle mura.—(L. Afr. in Ram., 5“ parte.)