148 
JOURNEY FROM 
may conclude that the Hght was admitted from above ; and it is by 
no means improbable that a space was left uncovered in the centre 
for that purpose, this mode of building being common in hot 
climates, and it would at all times have been easy to guard against 
the inconvenience of rain, as the surface exposed would have been 
inconsiderable. 
No appearance of doors, or of apertures of any kind, is observable 
in the sides of these structures ; and they must either have been 
entered from the top, or by some subterranean communication. 
There are instances still remaining, in the eastern parts of the Syrtis, 
of fortresses more difficult of access than these, where they who 
entered have evidently been drawn up with ropes by the persons 
already stationed above ; and we may conclude, as no traces of 
any subterranean entrance were discernible in the forts, which we 
have just described, that they were entered in a similar manner. 
In the walled forts we found entrances to the outer works by means 
of gates, but could in no instance discover any door in the habitable 
part. 
We often wished for an opportunity of excavating some of these 
buildings, that we might be enabled to give their plans more cor- 
rectly ; but, as it was important to secure the coast-line before the 
rainy season set in, we did not think ourselves justified in delaying 
the advance of the party any longer than was necessary for the at- 
tainment of that object. 
As a general remark, we may here observe, that, in passing from 
west to east of the Greater Syrtis, the fortresses were found to be 
