TRIPOLY TO BENGAZI. 
189 
extensive view, on both sides, over the sea, and overlooks many 
remains of building which are scattered about the plain at the back 
of it. At the foot of the eminence on which the fortress has been built, 
is a ravine, which must at times be the bed of a considerable tor- 
rent, and which, crossing the plain from the mountains by which it 
is bounded, empties itself into the sea at the base of the fort. The 
mountains, which here run parallel with the beach, approach at the 
same time so closely to the sea, that the plain which intervenes might 
be easily defended by means of the ravine just described. Along this 
ravine are traces of strong walls which have been constructed on both 
sides of it, and have formerly extended from the sea to the foot of the 
hills ; and which must in their perfect state have formed, together 
with the ravine, a very effectual barrier to the pass. 
Such advantages of situation could not well have been overlooked 
by the ancients ; and there is little doubt that this position was 
originally one of importance. It appears so well calculated, both by 
nature and art, for the establishment of a boundary line, that we 
have little hesitation in supposing the remains above mentioned to 
have at some period defended the limits of the states of Cyrene and 
Carthage ; and it is accordingly here that we should feel most in- 
clined to fix the site of the Castle of Euphrantes. The distance of 
this fort from Zaffran, considered as Aspis, does indeed seem too 
great for the literal meaning of Strabo’s term a-vnsx,-/;g : but then 
the circumstance of its uniting a strong boundary line with a very 
and two sides of a chamber, coated with excellent cement, were also remarked in the side 
of the cliff near the sea ; the other parts had fallen away with the rock, and were scat- 
tered in ruin on the beach, which was thickly strewed with remains of the fortress. 
