2o6 Geographical Ohfervations in the Inland Country 



Surfeff, r/;f Suvfeff {th.Q Sarfuva of Hir tins') ^nd^reejis, are two con- 

 tiguous Villages, fix Miles to the Weftward oi El Medea. They 

 are fituated below a Ridge of Hills, which, reaching with few 

 IntermiiTions from y'lmmel to Sale&o, feems to be the fime 

 that is taken Notice of by Hirtius\ particulary when He de- 

 fer ibeth the Oppofition that Cafar met with from Lahienus in 

 the taking of Sarjura. 

 jcmme, The Ftom SiirfwYt wc find that Ctefar' continued His Marches 

 TusDRo' the next Day to Tifdra or Jernme as It is called at prefent. 

 DRu".' W This Village lyeth about fix Leagues to the S. S. W. of Surjeff\ 

 L'c.^p.iy.and five to the S. hyV\i. oi Elalia, which is the Situation that 

 ^'^' Ttolemy hath given to Thyfdrti^s with Regard to yichola. ' 



The Antiqm- At JeMme there are feveral Antiquities ; as Altars with de- 

 ""'"'^ faced Infcriptions ; a Variety of Columns; a great many 

 Trunks and Arms of marble Statues ; one of which is of the 

 Colofs Kind, in Armour ; another is of a naked Venus^ in the 

 Pofture and Dimenfions of the Medicean ; both of Them by 

 good Mailers, but without Heads. But this Place is the moft 

 remarkably diftinguiftied by the beautiful Remains we have 

 ^tta ^r^^'' ^^^^ ^^ ^ fpacious Amphitheatre, confifting originally of fixty 

 four Arches and four Orders of Columns. The upper Order 

 which was perhaps no more than an Attick^ hath fuffered by 

 the Arahs : Mahamet Bey likewife blew up four of the 

 Arches from Top to Bottom , in a late Revolt of the 

 Arabs :, who made ufe of It as a Fortrefs : otherwife, as to 

 the Outfide at leaft, nothing could be more entire and beauti- 

 ful. Within, the Plat Form of the Seats, with the Galleries 

 and Vomitoria leading up to Them, are ftill remaining. The 

 Arena is nearly circular : and in the Centre of It, there is a 

 deep Well of hewn Stone, where the Pillar, that fupported the 

 Velum or Awning, may be fuppofed to have been fixed. 

 proiMy hmit ^Y coiiipating This with other Struolures at Spaitla , 

 %oxkzn!^' Hjdrah&ic. It feems to have been built about the Time of the 

 Antonmes, agreeing exactly in Proportion, and Workmanfiiip 

 with the Buildings of that Age. And as the elder Gordian 

 was proclaimed Emperor at this City, it is not improbable, 

 but that in Gratitude to the Place where He received the 



I Cafar * ad oppidum Sarfuram ire contendit ** Labienus per jugum fummum collis dex- 

 trorfus procul milites fubfequi non defiftit. Hirt, utiaprz. ^.6 j. ζ C«/rfr ad oppidum o^r- 

 furam vcnk*poftero die ad oppidum Tifdram pervenit. U. ^.64. 



Purple, 



