472 
MERGE TO GYRENE. 
advantage of being well sheltered by thick groves of date-trees, which 
give a very pleasing appearance to the town, and contribute mate- 
rially to the comfort of the inhabitants by forming a perpetual shade. 
A delightful stream of water gushes out from the rock above the 
town, passing through several streets in its course, and irrigating the 
gardens, and even the corn-fields in its neighbourhood. In short 
the actual resources of Derna give it a very decided advantage (in 
point of comfort) over every other town in the Bashaw’s dominions. 
A very pleasant wine (we were told) is made from the grapes of this 
place, all of which is consumed by the natives themselves, in spite of 
the prophet’s injunctions. 
The ravine at the mouth of which the town is situated is of consi- 
derable depth and extent, winding up far into the mountains ; some 
of the gardens are formed upon its sides, and about them a few trees 
occasionally appear, where the soil has been able to lodge. In the 
rainy season a considerable body of water rushes down from the 
mountains to the sea, and is sometimes so deep and so rapid as to 
become wholly impassable : at such times it separates one half the 
town from the other and occasions a consequent inconvenience. In 
the summer, however, it is dry, and the market is held upon its 
shining bed. 
It may readily be imagined that natives of Africa complain httle 
of any inconvenience which fresh water may chance to occasion 
them ; and we doubt even whether the inhabitants of Derna would 
not rather run the risk of losing a part of their town every winter. 
