"From the top of Byrsa, the eye embraces the ruins of Carthage, which are more numerous than is generally believed: they resemble those of Sparta, having nothing in a good state of preservation, but occupying a considerable space. I saw them in the month of February; the fig-trees, olive-trees, and carobs were already putting out their young leaves; large angelicas and acanthas formed tufts of verdure among the ruins of marble of every colour. In the distance, I turned my gaze over the isthmus, a two-fold sea, far islands, a smiling country-side, bluey lakes, azured mountains; I descried forests, ships, aqueducts, Moorish villages, Mohammedan hermitages, minarets, and the white houses of Tunis. Millions of starlings, gathered into battalions and resembling clouds, flew above my head. Surrounded by the greatest and most touching memories, I thought of Dido[700], of Sophonisba[701], of Hasdrubal's noble spouse[702]; I viewed the vast plains in which the legions of Hannibal, Scipio[703], and Cæsar[704] lie buried; my eyes tried to recognise the site of the Palace of Utica. Alas, the remains of the palace of Tiberius[705] still exist at Capri, and we look in vain at Utica for the spot where stood Cato's[706] house! Lastly, the terrible Vandals, the light Moors passed in turn before my memory, which showed me, as a final picture, St. Louis dying on the ruins of Carthage[707]." * [Sidenote: The ruins of Carthage.] Julien, like myself, takes his last view of Africa at Carthage[708]. Julien briefly narrates our passage from Tunis to the Bay of Gibraltar; from Algeciras he promptly arrives at Cadiz, and from Cadiz at Granada. Careless of Blanca, he observes only that "the Alhambra and other lofty buildings stand on rocks of immense height." My own _Itinéraire_ does not give many more details on Granada; I content myself with saying: "The Alhambra seems to me to be worthy of note, even after the temples of Greece. The valley of Granada is delightful, and much resembles that of Sparta: it is easy to conceive that the Moors regret so fine a country."