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MERGE TO GYRENE. 
CHAPTER XIX. 
Historical Sketch of Gyrene — Its Foundation by a Lacedemonian Colony — Dynasty of the 
Battiades, or Family of Battus — Cession of the Country to Ptolemy Lagus — And afterwards 
to the Romans by Apion, the last of the Ptolemies who possessed it — Cyrene becomes a 
Roman Province, and is united in one Government with Crete — Illustrious Persons who were 
natives of Cyrene — Tenets of the Sect of Philosophers termed Cyrenaic — Decay of the City, 
and its final Desertion in Christian times after the Transfer of the Bishopric to Ptolemeta — 
Return of the Expedition to Bengazi, and its subsequent Departure for Malta. 
AVe learn from Herodotus, that Battus, a native of Thera, in com- 
pliance with the injunctions of the Oracle at Delphi, first landed with 
a party of his countrymen in Plataa ; an island lying close to the 
northern coast of Africa, and supposed to be that which is at present 
called Bomba. Here he built a city ; and after a lapse of two years 
proceeded again to Delphi, in order to consult the Pythia (or 
priestess) with respect to his future proceedings. 
The new establishment appearing to be insufficient for the fulfil- 
ment of the deity’s instructions, Battus removed his colony to Aziris, 
a part of the continent opposite to Plateea, and described by the 
historian as a most delightful spot. In this new abode they re- 
mained for six years ; and on the seventh, (by the advice of the 
Libyan tribes in their neighbourhood, who promised to conduct 
them to a much better place,) removed to the high ground then called 
