possible to fix the site of the town with any accuracy in a tract of
country where ruins abound.
We will content ourselves with repeating, that it may either be
placed (upon the authority of the measurements stated above) at
Mahad Hassan, at Zaffran, or in the neighbourhood of Jedeed; but.
if we are to fix it on the authority of Abulfeda, we must remove it
further eastward, to the neighbourhood of Medinét Sultán, which is
the spot we should ourselves prefer for it.
Abulfeda; in mentioning the remains of the city of Sort, informs
us that on the west of them is a Gulf called Bodaik, or Bodakiah,
(apparently the same) says Major Bennell (with the Zadic Sinus of
Edrisi) near which stands the town of Asna, one hundred and two
Arabic miles, or one hundred and eight geographic, to the southeast
of the Promontory of Eanem.
The Promontory of Kanem may be considered as the western extremity
of the Greater Syrtis (say the Cephalas Promontorium in
the neighbourhood of Mesurata) ;■ and a distance of one hundred and
eight geographical miles from Mesurata would bring us within five
miles of Zafiran, that is, five miles to the west of i t ; for Zafiran is
one hundred and thirteen miles from Mesurata. According to
this measurement, we should be induced to place Asna at Zafiran,
in the absence of any ruins, as we have stated above, between that
place and Mahad Hassan *.
* I f Mahad Hassan may be taken as the Turns Hasan (or Cosr Asan) o f Edrisi, with
which it appears to correspond, we may fairly venture, perhaps, to place Asna a t Zafiran,
th a t place being thirty M. P. from Hasan, on the testimony of the Arab geographer,
and Zaffran thirty geographic miles from Mahad Hassan. The wells of Zalfr&n are, at
the same time, on the beach, as those are said to be which Edrisi has mentioned a t Asna.
The town of Asna is laid down by Edrisi at forty-six Arabic
miles from the city of Sort; and this distance added to the hundred
and eight above stated would bring us to the neighbourhood of
Medinet Sultan, which is one hundred and fifty-one geographic
miles from Mesurata. If we suppose, with Major Bennell, that
forty-six has here been substituted for twenty, six, the latter
measurement would bring us to Shuaisha, where there are certainly,
as we have already stated, some inconsiderable remains, but not apparently
those of a town. About two miles south-east of Medinet
Sult&n are decided remains, of an ancient town,'called Medina*,
(the city) which from the circumstance we are about to mention,
we should be inclined to suggest as the most eligible position (at
least in our opinion) for the city of Sort.
The distance of Asna from the western point of the Syrtis, as
given by Abulfeda, is found to correspond sufficiently well with
that of Zaffran from Mesurata. Sort is stated to be situated to the
eastward of Asna, at a distance of forty-six Boman miles from that
place, according to the testimony of Edrisi; and the distance of
Zaffran from Medina (forty-seven M. P.) corresponds very well with
this statement, the latter place being, at the same, time to the
eastward of the former,
We may add that the term Sort, or Sert, is not known at the
present day to the Arabs as applied to any city or town; but is
merely used to designate the tract of country which lies between
* Medina is the Arabic term for a city, and Medinet Sul* an, as it is termed by
the Arabs, may be translated, royal city, or city of more than ordinary distinction.