MERGE TO GYRENE. 
477 
out from the base of the mountain, we reached El Hyera, where there 
is a well of fresh water within a few feet of the sea, and the remains 
of a fort upon a small eminence a little above it : at night we stopped 
at Bujebara, close to the cape of the same name, with which Derna 
forms a large bay; and which has three rocky islets lying off it. The 
mountains, winch extend in a range along the coast, at a distance of 
from a mile to a mile and a half, are continually broken by deep 
ravines which cross the beach in their passage to the sea, and make 
the road in some places nearly impassable. 
It was curious to observe the gradual increase of vegetation in 
passing from Derna to xkppollonia by this route : the mountains at 
the former place, as we have already mentioned, are perfectly desti- 
tute of any ; in advancing, a little underwood is here and there seen, 
and a few bushes sparingly dotted about the plain ; these increase by 
degrees, as the country becomes bolder, and gradually spread them- 
selves over the sides of the hills, ascending higher and higher every 
mile, till, in approaching El Hyera, one continued wood reaches down 
from the top of the mountains to the sea. On the third, we pursued 
our journey along the coast by a very indifferent road, and at two 
miles’ distance from Bujebara the range comes down close to the sea 
and terminates in perpendicular cliffs, along the edge of which we 
were obliged to pass to the great risk of our horses and camels. 
At the foot of these, which is washed by the sea, we noticed a small 
rocky point with a quarry upon it, extending itself in a semicircular 
form so as to afford some protection for boats which might also be 
hauled upon the sandy beach within it. Eight miles to the westward 
