Of the Winter Circuit. 207 



Purple^ He might have been the Founder of It. Upon one 

 of the Medals of the younger Gordian we have an Amphi- 

 theatre, not hitherto accounted for by the Medalifls : but it 

 may be too peremptory perhaps to fix it at T'tfdra. 



Rugga, the antient Caraga is about two Leagues to the J^gg*'" ^'^'' 

 S. S. E. o^ Jemme, and nearly of the fame Extent. It is fa-£^'pi7B. 

 mous for a capacious 7)amufs , as They call a Ciftern, whofe 

 Roof is fupported by feveral Rows of malTy Pillars, and which 

 formerly fupplyed the whole City with Water. 



In the fame Parallel with Rugga, feven Leagues to the perre-anah, 

 S. S. W. of Cajjareeuj is Ferre-anah, which appears to have 

 been the largeft City of Blzac'ium \ though all the Remains 

 of It's antient Grandeur, confift in a few Granate and other 

 Pillars, which, by fome extraordinary Chance or Benevolence 

 of the Arabs, are left Handing upon their Pedeftals. It hath 

 been exceedingly well watered ; for befides a plentiful Brook, 

 that runs under the Walls, there have been feveral Wells with- 

 in the City, each of Them furrounded with a Corridore, and 

 vaulted over with a Cupola. This, and a good Air, are the 

 only Benefits and Conveniencies that Ferre-anah can urge in Fa- 

 vour of It's Situation ; for, if we except a fmall Extent of Ground 

 to the Southward, which the Inhabitants cultivate, by refreihing 

 It at proper Times with the Rivulet; all the reft of the cir- 

 cumjacent Country is dry, barren and inhofpitable. ThePro- 

 fpeft likewife (which is the only one It enjoys) to the Weft- 

 ward, terminateth upon fome naked Precipices ; orelfe, where 

 the Eye hath Liberty to wander through fome narrow Cliff 

 or Valley, we are entertained with no other View, than of a 

 Defert fcorched up with perpetual Drought, and glowing with ^ 



the Sun Beams. 



This lonefome Situation, and the great fcarcity of Water inr^^THALA 

 the adjacent Country, may induce us to take this Place for the ''^^^^^"^' 

 Thala of the Antients. For we are informed that Thala was 

 of great Extent, fituated like Cap fa ' in the midft of Moun- 

 tains and Deferts, and that there were fome Fountains with- 

 out the City : all which Particulars agree with the Situation of 



I Erat inrer ingentes Solitudines oppidum magnum, atque valens, nomine Capfa : cujus 

 Conditor Hercules Libys memorabatuf, ** Metelltts Thalatn magna gloria ceperat, baud diffi- 

 militer fitum, munitumque: nifiquodapud Thalatn non longe a mcenibus aliquot fontes 

 erant. Sail. Bell. Jug. f 94. 



F f f X Ferre-anah, 



