TRIPOLY TO BENGAZI. 
59 
at the same time no positive proof on their authority that it may 
not have been possibly the true one. 
On the morning after our arrival at Lebida the Shekh of the place 
came to pay us a visit, and to offer his assistance in procuring us coins 
and gems, which are constantly found among the ruins by the Jews, 
who pay a consideration to the Bashaw for the exclusive enjoyment 
of this privilege. The offer of our new' friend was readily accepted, 
and he himself very cordially entertained by his brother Shekh, 
Mahommed el Dubbah ; but, his supper being eaten, we never heard 
more of him or of the antiquities which he professed to procure 
for us. 
The effects of a heavy storm, which had occurred on the preceding 
night, obliged us to remain at Lebida the whole of this day, in order 
to dry our provisions and clothes ; for we had no sooner pitched the 
tents, on the evening of our arrival, than we were overtaken by a 
violent storm of thunder and lightning, accompanied by continued 
gusts of wind, which kept us employed during the greater part of 
the night in attending to the tent-pegs. 
In the mean time, the rain never ceased to fall in torrents, and 
soon made its way, impelled by the force of the wind, through every 
part of a good substantial canvass ; one of our tents was completely 
upset, and the whole of our party, with the better half of the bag- 
gage, were wet through long before the dawn of day. Towards 
morning, however, the storm died away, and the first appearance of 
the sun, in a tolerably clear sky, was in truth a most comfortable 
prospect. As it promised to be fine for the rest of the day, we 
