INTRODUCTION. xxvii 



ly the Mauritania Csefarienfis, whofc capital, Conflantina, is 

 the ancient metropolis of Syphax. It was called Cirta *j 

 and, after Julius Cafar's conqueft, Cirta Sittianorum, from 

 Caius Sittius who mil took it. It is fituated upon a high, 

 gloomy, tremendous precipice. Part only of its aqueduct 

 remains : the water, which once was carried into the town, 

 now fpills itfelf from the top of the cliff into a chafm, or 

 narrow valley, above four hundred feet below. The view 

 of it is in the King's collection ; a band of robbers, the 

 figures which adorn it, is a compofition from imagination ; 

 all the reft is perfectly real. 



The Bey was at this time in his camp, as he was making 

 war with the Hanneifhah, the mofl powerful tribe of Arabs 

 in that province. After having refreflied myfelf in the 

 Bey's palace I fet out to Seteef, the Sitifif of antiquity, the 

 capital of Mauritania Sitifenfis, at fome diftance from which 

 I joined the Bey's army, confifting of about 1 2,000 men, with 

 four pieces of cannon. After flaying a few days with the 

 Bey, and obtaining his letters of recommendation, I proceed- 

 ed to Taggou-zainah, anciently Diana VeteranorumJ, as we 

 learn by an infeription on a triumphal arch of the Corin- 

 thian order which I found there. 



Trom Taggou-zainah I continued my journey neaiiy 

 flraight S. E. and arrived at Medrafhem, a fuperb pile of 

 building, the fepulchre of Syphax, and the other kings of 

 •Numidia, and where, as the Arabs believe, were alio depo- 



d 2 fited 



* Ptol. Geog. lib. iy. p. 1 1 i. f Ptol. Geog. lib. i 7 . p. ioS- 



4 Vide Itin. Anton. 



