196 REPORT — 1875. 



considerable importance, all testifying to the high state of civilization -which 

 existed wherever this great people founded colonies. 



But it is principallj' on their northern slopes and in the plains at their base 

 that those splendid cities existed, the ruins of which now excite the wonder and 

 admiration of modern travellers. Bruce visited them a century ago, and made a 

 large number of exquisite drawings of the principal architectural features. These 

 are now in the possession of his descendant Lady Thurlow, by whose permission 

 two of his original sketches were exhibited. 



Commencing from Lambessa, a complete chain of these cities extended as far as 

 Tebessa, their order from west to east Ijeing as follows : — 



Lambees (mod. Lambessa), Verecunda (mod. MarJcomia), Thamugas (mod. 

 Timefiad) , Mascula (mod. Ain Klienchia), Baghaia (mod. Kast Uaghai), and Theveste 

 (mod. Tebessa). 



The first two of these are well known to travellers. Thamugas was described by 

 Colonel Playfair in considerable detail. It contains numerous magnificent ruins, 

 the principal of which are a triumphal arch, theatre, forum, capitol, a Byzantine 

 fortress, and a Christian chiu'ch. The whole siu-face of the groimdis covered with 

 fragments of sculpture and inscriptions, many of the latter quite entire, which 

 prove that the city was fovmded by Hadrian, and colonized by the veterans of the 

 30th legion Ulpia after its return from the Parthian war. 



Not far fi'om Timegad is the fertile plain of Firis, on the west and south of 

 which are two moimtains covered with countless numbers of the most interesting 

 megalithic remains. Their variety is considerable ; but the most ordinary type is 

 that of a low circular structure, nearly level with the earth at the vipper part of 

 its base, and varying in height on the opposite side, according to the slope of the 

 hill, from 3 to 8 feet. The walls are of rough dry masonry, generally about 6 feet 

 thick ; the diameter is from 15 to 30 feet ; and each contains a central chamber of 

 irregular shape covered with a single slab of stone. In some places the monuments 

 are close together ; in others they are separated by a number of tombs of the ordi- 

 nary dolmenic type, as if the latter were intended for people of less consideration 

 than those for whom the circular ones were constructed. 



The next city is JMascula, now Ain Khenchla, where an attempt has been made 

 at European colonization. The position is well chosen from a sanitary and stra- 

 tegic point of view, but it is rather distant fi'om any place where produce can be 

 sold. 



The ruins of Kast Baghai are also interesting; they are close to the diligence- 

 route from Khenchla to Ain Beida. From the latter place to Tebessa is a day's 

 journey, and here are to be found the finest Roman ruins in the colony. These 

 consist of the ancient citadel restored by Solomon, the successor of Belisarius, who 

 lost his life here. The modern city is built within it ; there is a temple of Jupiter 

 nearly complete, a magnificent quadrifrontal triumphal arch, and the ruins of a 

 basilica, subsequently converted into a Christian church. 



On tlie Physical Geocjrajihy of tliat part of tlie Atlantic uildch lies letivecn 

 20° N. and 10° S. and extends from 10° to 40° W. By Captain H. 

 Toynhee, F.R.A.S., F.B.G.S., ^c, Marine Superintendent of the Meteoro- 

 logical Office. 



The paper was accompanied by monthly diagrams, which showed : — 



1st. The isobaric lines of mean pressure for each "05 of an inch, together with 

 arrows showing the prevailing winds and their force. 



2nd. The isothermal lines for every second degree of air-temperatm-e. 



3rd. The isothermal lines for every second degree of sea-temperature, together 

 with arrows showing the prevailiug cm-rents and their speed in 24 hoiu'S. 



The author called attention to important facts relating to atmospheric pressure, 

 temperatiu-e, wind, currents, we.ither, sea, clouds, natural history, earthquakes, &c. 



The diagrams may be said to give the navigator a monthly picture of the dol- 

 drums, clearly showing him how in some months they are wedge-shaped (as re- 

 marked by the late Commodore Maiu-y), and enabling him to select the best route 



