88 
JOURNEY FROM 
so little importance, that whether its site be fixed at ZelTten or 
Selin is a matter of very trivial consideration. 
On the evening of the succeeding day we reached the little village 
of Zouia, which is somewhat resembling, but very superior to, Zeliten. 
After quitting Selin we had divided our party, and leaving the 
camels to pursue the direct road, we proceeded along the sand-hills 
which flank the beach, and arrived at an inconsiderable collection of 
hovels situated immediately on the coast. This place is called 
Zoraig, and contains, we were told, about an hundred persons, who 
cultivate just sufficient ground to supply themselves and their fami- 
lies. They were, however, provided with several wells of good water, 
which they distributed by means of troughs over the cultivated 
ground. We here dismounted to partake of some dates and water, 
which were cordially offered to us by an old man of the village ; and 
we soon learned from him that the Adventure had been there several 
days, and that a party of the officers had been on shore. Two little 
ports, if such they may be called, are here formed by reefs of rocks 
lying off the village, and the natives have dignified them with the 
titles of Mersa Gusser and Mersa Zoraig *. 
On the following day we entered Mesurata by a circuitous route 
shaded thickly with date-trees, and enclosed between well-furnished 
gardens. 
We had now reached the eastern boundary of the - cultivated dis- 
tricts, where they terminate on the margin of the Syrtis ; and as this 
was the place where we were to change our camels, we pitched the 
* Mersa is the Arab term for a port or harbour. 
