MERGE TO GYRENE. 
549 
Were it not for its elevated position, Cyrene would probably, on 
account of its luxuriant pasturage, and the abundant supply of fresh 
water which it possesses, be at all times a favourite haunt of the 
wandering tribes of the Cyrenaica : but the Arab, for an active man, 
is one of the most lazy of any race of people with which we are 
acquainted, and will rather forego a very decided advantage than 
give himself much trouble in acquiring or maintaining it ; he would 
in consequence easily persuade himself that the advantages which 
Cyrene must be acknowledged to possess, would be more than coun- 
terbalanced by the trouble of ascending and descending its hills, and 
of driving his flocks and his camels to water in places which would 
be thought inconvenient. 
We are not aware that it will be of any service to dwell further 
upon the nature and condition of the buildings of Cyrene ; as much 
as we were able to collect (with the time and means which we had 
at our disposal) has already been given of the objects most worthy of 
notice ; and to say more would only be to ofier conjecture, on subjects 
which do not afford sufficient data to authorise particular descrip- 
tion. 
In fact, the whole of the existing remains of this ancient and once 
beautiful city are at present little more than a mass of ruin ; and 
the tombs afford the most perfect examples of Grecian art now 
remaining in Cyrene. To give plans of half these would be impos- 
sible, unless whole years of labour were devoted to the task ; but 
we really believe, that any zealous antiquary, any person with 
tolerable feeling for the arts, would with pleasure devote every day 
