Narrative of travels and discoveries in Northern and Central Africa, in the years 1822, 1823, and 1824Denham, Dixon
History
Narrative of travels and discoveries in Northern and Central Africa, in the years 1822, 1823, and 1824
Denham, Dixon
Africa, Central -- Description and travel; Africa, North -- Description and travel; Natural history -- Africa, North
Monday, June 17. We had many accounts of inscriptions being here,
which the people could not read. We were conducted to-day by Sheikh
Mustapha to examine a building, different, as he stated, from any
in the country. When we arrived, we found, to our satisfaction,
it was a structure which had been erected by the Romans.
There were no inscriptions to be found, although we carefully turned
up a number of the stones strewed about, but a few figures and letters
rudely hewn out, and evidently of recent date. We imagined we could
trace some resemblance to the letters of Europe, and conjectured that
they had been hewn out by some European traveller at no very distant
period. Our thoughts naturally went back to Hornemann; but again we
had no intelligence of his having been here. In short, to confess the
truth, we did not know what to make of them, till we afterwards made
the discovery of the Targee writing. This building is about twelve
feet high, and eight broad. It is built of sandstone, well finished,
and dug from the neighbouring hills. Its interior is solid, and of
small stones, cemented by mortar. It stands about three miles from
Germa, and a quarter of a mile from the foot of the mountain. It
is either a tomb or an altar: those well acquainted with Roman
architecture, will easily determine which. The finding a structure
of these people proves, without doubt, their intercourse here. It is
probable they had no extensive establishment; otherwise we should see
more remains. As we went along we passed by, and saw to the westward,
the remains of ancient Germa. It appeared to occupy a space more
extensive than the present town. We were not able to learn from the
old sheikh whether any old coins were ever found, or any building
similar to this, in the vicinity. Was this the track merely of the
Romans into the interior, or did they come to the valley for dates?
Tuesday, June 18. Hateeta arrived during the night; but our departure
was delayed on account of his being sick. He has a severe fever,
and it is likely it may be of some continuance. The ague is very
prevalent in the wadey; and, if we can believe the natives, the water
is a very powerful agent in inducing bilious affection. The town
is surrounded by a ditch, now nearly dry, and its site covered with
a thick crust of the muriate of soda, evidently containing a large
quantity of the muriate and sulphate of magnesia. This crust extends
to a considerable distance from the town, and is five or six inches
thick in several places. There are several wells, not two feet deep,
containing excellent water. The date trees are close to the vicinity
of the town, and most are heavily loaded with fruit. It is lamentable
to see the number of houses in ruin, and the marks of poverty in
the dress of the inhabitants. We could scarcely get a fowl to buy;
and a sheep was out of the question.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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