4 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
difadvantage of partaking in the agitation of the fea when cer- 
tain winds prevail. The European veflels which frequent it 
are, however, enabled, with fome precautions, to lie at anchor 
fecurely, to the number of about twenty. They are confined 
to this fmall fpace, which bears no proportion to the whole 
extent of the harbour, by the fhallownefs of the water, which 
feems in fome degree the effed: of great quantities of ballaft, 
that from time to time have been difcharged within its limits. 
The Government pays no regard to this practice, which yet in 
the end muft render the port ufelefs. It is currently reported 
in the place, and many marks yet exift to give credibility to 
that report, as well as the defign of Norden, which fo reprefents 
it, that the water, within the memory of perfons now living, 
reached the gate of the old cuftom-houfe ; which I now find re- 
moved many fathoms from the water's edge. So that it would 
feem the fea is retiring, and that nature, rather than any weaker 
agent, has effeded the change. The old port, allotted to the 
Mohammedans, is fpacious, though fomewhat of lefs extent 
than the other. There is throughout a depth of five or fix 
fathom J and in many places more ; the anchorage is generally 
fecure. 
The city extends along a part of the ifthmus and the penin- 
fula ; at the eaftern extremity of which is fituated a fort, where 
it would feem may formerly have flood the Pharos. This fort 
is now ruinous, and is joined with the continent by a mole 
built of ftone, and in which are wrought arches, to weaken the 
effed of the water. It has been ftieltered by a wall on the weft 
fide, now alfo ruinous. The houfes, which are chiefly mafonry, 
are 
