506 
MERGE TO GYRENE. 
accompanied by the two Seedies, an escort of twenty-six Moorish 
cavalry, and several camels. Proceeding by the fertile grounds of 
Sahal, we rode southward in the direction of the hills ; but before 
quitting the plain, our companions saluted us and each other by 
firing their guns whilst riding at full speed, in imitation of desultory 
attack and defence, which, allowing for the difference of weapon, 
shewed a striking resemblance to their ISTumidian ancestors. As we 
advanced up the hills we found the country beyond the tower of 
Grara, neglected ; the clothing and equipments of the inhabitants 
were also more rude and scanty than in the plains. 
“ On the 2nd of March we passed an old tower called Gusser-Kzab, 
in the plain of Frussa, where, about three years before, a considerable 
treasure had been discovered in gold and silver coins, of which how- 
ever I was unable to procure a single specimen, they having been all 
taken to the coast of Tripoli, where they were most probably melted, 
and their date and story lost for ever. Proceeding from Frussa over 
a sterile and fatiguing district, we arrived about noon on the 3rd at 
the Wadie of Benioleet, where, having been expected, the principal 
people came out to welcome us, and some met us even as far off as 
the valley of Mezmouth. This, though only a distance of four or five 
miles, is a very laborious and dreary ride, over a rocky tract, exhibit- 
ing a remarkably volcanic appearance, from a black substance 
resembling porous lava, lying upon a bed of tertiary limestone, and 
forming, perhaps, a part of the Harutsch of Horneman. The melan- 
choly aspect of these hills renders the first view of the Wadie of 
Benioleet, with its houses, fields, and palm trees, extremely pictur- 
