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
The Rainy Season sets in at Bengazi towards the middle of January,
and continues with little interruption till the beginning of
March — Miserable Condition of the Town during that period —
Construction of the Houses — Improvidence of the Arabs — Dirty
state of the Streets — Swarms of insects which infest them —
Position of Bengazi — Description of its Harbour — Castle of the
Bey — Visit to Bey Halīl — Friendly Reception of our Party by
his Excellency — Occupations and arrangements during the Rainy
Season — The Shekh el Belad Mahommed — Jews of Bengazi —
Trade of the Town — Produce of the Environs — Wretched state
of the Bullock Vessels — Mahometan Inhabitants of Bengazi —
Alarm of the Lower Classes during our residence there — Confusion
resulting from it — Mob collected at our door on this occasion
— Narrow Escape of Mr. Giacomo Rossoni — Friendly Conduct of
our Mahometan Acquaintance — Parley with the Arabs — Dispersion
of the Mob — Prejudices of the Arabs respecting the Treatment of
Diseases — Fatal Effects of this species of Folly at Bengazi —
Prevalent Diseases in Bengazi and its vicinity — Singular cause
of Alarm among a Party of Arab Shekhs — Arab notions of decorum
and propriety contrasted with those of European Nations — Bengazi
supposed to occupy the Site of Berenice and Hesperis — Existing
Remains there — Little regard manifested by Turks and Arabs
for the relics of Antiquity — Probable Limits of Berenice —
Quarries, and singular Chasms in its Neighbourhood — Gardens of
Hesperides — Position of the Gardens according to Scylax, Pliny,
and Ptolemy — Conjectures of Gosselin and others respecting
them — Circumstances which appear to favour our position of the
Gardens — Lakes and Subterranean Caverns in the Neighbourhood of
Bengazi, (or Berenice) — Concealed Body of Water observed in one
of the latter — Examination of the Caverns — Remarks of the Bey
respecting it — The Subterranean Stream in question considered as
the River Lathon, or Lethe — Testimonies of the Ancients on this
point — Supposed Communication of the Subterranean Stream with
the Lake adjoining the Harbour of Bengazi — Signification of the
term _Lathon_ alluded to — Further Remarks in confirmation of our
suggested Position of the River, and of its probable Communication
with the Lake above mentioned — Remarks of Strabo and Cellarius
on the subject — Temple of Venus, and Lake Tritonis of Strabo
— Remarks on the name _Berenice_ — Total ignorance of the Arabs
of Bengazi with respect to the former celebrity of their City —
Pleasing little Fable of Kazwini, on the changes which take place
in the Nature and Appearance of Places, and the little knowledge
which remains, after a lapse of time, of their former Condition,
even on the spots where they existed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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