The Temple was surrounded by a triple wall, forming three distinct quarters or divisions; one of which was appropriated to the use of the Monarch. In the time of Herodotus, when probably the Temple was in its glory, the dominions of the Ammonites reached within ten days journey of the City of Thebes: the people were a colony of Egyptians and Ethiopians, and spoke a mixed language, (Herod. Book III.) Ammon, or Hammon, was the Egyptian name of Jupiter; and the image of the god, similar to that at Thebes; that is, it had the head of a Ram. (Book IV.) In the time of Strabo, about four hundred and fifty years after Herodotus, the Temple was almost deserted; as the Oracle was grown out of fashion. It is probable that some remains either of the triple wall, or of the Temple, may be found at this day; although the materials may have undergone a different kind of arrangement. The transport of the materials across the Desart could only have been accomplished by the strong impulse of superstition: and being once collected, nothing but a like cause could remove them. See-wah appears to be the nearest town to this Oasis; and is probably not more than six days journey on the North East of it: the spring, together with the ruins of the Temple, and the triple wall, might ascertain the spot, if the curiosity of the present age demanded it. * * * * * MARCH, 1790. * * * * * FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 1: _In the Arabic, the word Friend is often employed, as in this passage, to express the same meaning as the English term servant._] [Footnote 2: BEN ALLI, a native of Morocco, who was lately in England, and of whom an account is given in the Introduction to Chapter IV. relates, that in proceeding from Fezzan to Gharien, on his way to Tripoli, he was met by several parties of Arabs, who were robbers by profession, and who rendered the rout so dangerous, that every individual in the caravan was obliged to carry a gun, a brace of pistols, and a yatagan or sabre. He describes the country as partially cultivated; and remarks, that it is furnished with few springs, and is wholly destitute of rivers. By his account, the distance from Fezzan to Gharien is that of a journey of sixteen days. He represents the rout from Gharien to Tripoli as a sandy desart, and its length as that of a seven days journey.] [Footnote 3: The capital of Fezzan is situated on the banks of a small river, and is also supplied with water from a multitude of springs and wells. Being formerly built with stone, it still retains the appellation of a Christian Town; and the medley which it presents to the eye, of the vast ruins of antient buildings, and of the humble cottages of earth and sand that form the dwellings of its present Arab inhabitants, is singularly grotesque and strange. BEN ALLI.]