76 
JOURNEY FROM 
memorable treachery of the Leptitani. From whatever cause it pro- 
ceeded, the destruction is complete ; most of the statues are either 
broken to pieces, or chipped into shapeless masses, the arabesque 
ornaments defaced, the acanthus leaves and volutes knocked oif‘ the 
Mien capitals, and even part of the pavements torn up ; the massy 
shafts of the columns alone remaining entire. 
With a view of gaining further information, I opened an exten- 
sive Necropolis, but with little success. There were neither vases 
nor lachrymatories, but only a coarse species of amphorm and some 
paterae, with a few coins, neither rare nor handsome, mostly brass, 
and principally of Severus, Pupienus, Alexander, Juha Mammea, 
Balbus, and Gordianus Pius. A number of intaglios of poor execu- 
tion w^ere picked up in different parts, as also some very common 
Carthaginian medals, but nothing indicating high antiquity or taste- 
ful skill. Willing, however, to make as fair a trial as possible, I con- 
tinued excavating until the 12th of February, when, having explored 
the principal Basilica, a triumphal arch, a circus, a peristyleum, and 
several minor structures, with only a strengthened conviction of the 
precarious chance of recovering any specimens of art worth the 
labour and expense of enlarged operations, I determined to desist. 
In the course of the excavation I had an opportunity of observ- 
ing, that the period of the principal grandeur of the city must have 
been posterior to the Augustan age, and when taste was on the 
decline ; for notwithstanding the valuable materials with which it 
was constructed, it appears to have been overloaded with indifferent 
ornament, and several of the mutilated colossal statues I found, 
