TRIPOLY TO BENGAZI. 
163 
nary scene which it presented, we should scarcely have believed it 
possible that the force of the sea could, under any circumstances, 
have raised the large blocks of stone which are piled up on this part 
of the coast*. The occasional regularity in which these are heaped 
one above another, induced us, on the first view of them, to imagine 
that they had been intentionally placed there for the purpose of a 
breakwater ; but the long extent of the ranges soon proved the im- 
probability of this supposition and the idea was dismissed as heartily 
as it had been entertained. Heaps of sand and sea-weed are thrown 
up with these blocks of stone, and the roar and confusion which a 
nioderate gale of wind here occasions, are such as in other places 
will seldom be found to accompany the most violent weather -j-. 
The general appearance of Zaffran is however by no means un- 
pleasing, although it is destitute, like the rest of the Syrtis, of the 
advantages afforded by trees. The monotony of the flat and marshy 
surface, so predominant in other parts, is here broken by hills which 
are covered with verdure and overspread with a variety of flowers; 
some of the valleys are partially cultivated, and the flocks of sheep 
and goats which are scattered over the higher grounds, together 
* The drawing annexed will give some idea of the manner in which these blocks are 
disposed. 
■f The dangerous peculiarities of the Gulfs of Syrtis are frequently noticed by the 
ancients ; but the following passage from Sallust seems to allude more particularly to 
ihe powerful action of the surf, so conspicuous in the instance which we have just 
described. 
Nam ubi mare magnum esse, et saevire ventis coepit, limum, Arenamq : et saxa 
ingmtia Jluctus trahunt ; ita facies locorum cum ventis siniul mutatur. Syrles ab 
tract!! nominatoe. — (Bell. Jugurth., p. 78.) 
