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
Departure of the Expedition from Tripoly — Passage through
Tagiura — Fertile appearance of the latter — Its Mosque, and
actual remains — Tagiura considered as the site of Abrotonum
— Existence of a salt-water lake at Tagiura, consistent with
Strabo’s account of Abrotonum — Present tranquil condition of
the country in this neighbourhood contrasted with its dangerous
state in the time of Consul Tully — Sand-heaps to the eastward of
Tagiura — Remarks on their formation, and on the accumulation of
sand in other places — Dangers of the sand-storm considered —
Passage over the sandy tract to the eastward of Tagiura — Arrive
at Wady Ramleh — Stormy weather at that place — Take leave of our
European friends who had accompanied us from Tripoly — Continuance
of the gale — Arrive at Wady’m’Seyd — Attempt to pass,
without success, across the sand-hills to the coast. — Arrive
at Guadigmata — Position of Graphara, as laid down by Scylax,
considered. — Ancient remains discovered by Captain Smyth in the
neighbourhood of Wady’m’Seyd and Abdellata. — Remarks on these,
considered as the remains of Graphara — Scuffle with the Arabs at
Sidy Abdellati — Remains at that place indicative of an ancient
military station — Cross the range of Sélem — Extensive view
from its summit over the fertile plains of Lebida and Jumarr —
Rains still continue — Distress of the camels — Meet with the
English Consul on his return from an excursion to Lebida — Report
of a troop of marauding Arabs lying in wait for our party.
On the 4th of November our arrangements were completed, and we were
able to send the greater part of our baggage to the tents which
had been pitched in a garden without the town; on the following
morning we took a final leave of Tripoly, and set out on our journey
to Tagiura.
Our party consisted of three Europeans, who acted equally as
interpreters and servants, a Tchaous, or janissary, belonging to the
Bashaw, Shekh Mahommed el Dúbbah, with five other Bedouin Arabs, and
three Arabs of Tripoly to look after the horses, making altogether
(ourselves included) eighteen.
After passing through the Messeah, or cultivated district in the
neighbourhood of Tripoly, and along the large Salt Marsh, mentioned
in Tully’s Memoirs, which was now completely covered with water,
we entered the scattered villages of Tagiura. They are surrounded
by gardens, yielding abundant crops of corn, fruit and vegetables,
and shaded by thickly-planted date and olive-trees, which are
equally valuable to the inhabitants. We find Tagiura described
by Leo Africanus as a country containing a good many villages,
or hamlets, and many gardens of date and other fruit trees; and
its present general appearance is probably little different from
that which it presented in the time of this geographer.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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