Proceedings of the expedition to explore the northern coast of Africa, from Tripoly eastward : $b in MDCCCXXI. and MDCCCXXII., comprehending an account of the Greater Syrtis and Cyrenaica; and of the ancient cities composing the pentapolisBeechey, Frederick William
History
Proceedings of the expedition to explore the northern coast of Africa, from Tripoly eastward : $b in MDCCCXXI. and MDCCCXXII., comprehending an account of the Greater Syrtis and Cyrenaica; and of the ancient cities composing the pentapolis
Beechey, Frederick William
Sidra, Gulf of (Libya); Tripoli (Libya) -- Antiquities; Tripoli (Libya) -- Discovery and exploration
From Jedeed we proceeded on to Shuaisha, passing by Bennet Hadeed and
Hamed Garoosh, where are the remains of some forts, and a building
called by the natives Rumīa (or Christian), but which has nothing to
mark it as such, nor anything to recommend it to further notice. The
country from Zaffràn to Hamed Garoosh becomes gradually higher,
and in the valleys is well cultivated. We noticed many flocks of
sheep and goats, some oxen and camels, and found in all parts hares,
plovers, quails, curlews, wild-ducks, a few snipes, and a multitude
of jackalls, which latter were indeed, throughout the journey, our
constant companions. The evening setting in stormy, with heavy rains,
we were very late in reaching our tents, and having passed unexamined
some part of the coast, we remained at Shuaisha the whole of the
following day (the 16th) in order to complete it. Between Jedeed
and Shuaisha the coast is formed in small bays, and has some sunken
rocks very close in shore: at about a quarter of a mile from the
latter place, to the westward, we found the remains of a building
shewing itself through the side of the cliff which covered it; its
height from the foundation was about twenty-five feet, but its plan
could not of course be obtained without previous excavation. At nine
o’clock, on the 17th, we left Shuaisha, passed Marábut Duscarga
(the remains of an old fort), and in seven hours reached Medīnet
Sultàn, where we found a good supply of sweet water.
Medīnet Sultàn has been an important military position, as the
remains of several strongly-built fortresses still remaining there
attest; these buildings, like those at Zaffràn, are quadrangular,
and the foundations of strong walls, communicating with the forts,
are seen to cross them in various directions.
The plans of the buildings are more perfect than those of Zaffràn,
and are upon a larger scale; those of the walls, however, could not
be determined, and would require, from their ruined state, a very
long and attentive examination, before their original dimensions
and precise points of contact could be ascertained. We have given
the plans of two of the forts, one of which, though apparently very
perfect, is unprovided with any visible entrance. Two gates will be
observed in the outer works of the other, although none is apparent
in the habitable part of the building, which constitutes the most
important part of it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account