APPENDIX. 
xii 
and may be known by the clusters of date-trees in its vicinity. 
They are the only ones that occur upon the coast westward of Derna ; 
but on making the land, the hills, about fourteen miles west-south- 
west from Bengazi, will be first seen. On a near approach, a white 
Marabot upon an eminence near the sea, and a square castle at the 
entrance of the harbour, will serve more immediately to point out the 
town. During the summer months north-easterly winds are very 
prevalent in the day time, but generally die away towards night. 
They are said to extend about forty miles off the coast ; and ships 
bound to Bengazi should in consequence keep to the eastward, as 
well to take advantage of them, as to counteract the effects of the 
strong current which they occasion, sweeping along shore into the 
gulf. 
The port of Bengazi is formed by rocks, that project from the 
castle, and Juliana point; and is rendered very secure by a reef 
that extends across at a short distance from the mouth of it, leaving 
a narrow channel on either side : both these passages are very 
difficult, and upon an average the depth of water in the harbour will 
be found greater by a foot and a half, or two feet, in winter, than in 
summer. But we must not always depend upon this, or upon a rise 
with the winds that may be blowing at Bengazi at the moment ; as 
they may be confined to a short distance only from the coast; 
whereas it is the wind generally prevalent over the Mediterranean 
at the season that occasions the increase. 
The port of Bengazi is fast filling up with sand, and alluvium, 
brought down by the heavy rains that annually deluge the town, and 
boats only can now enter where the Bashaw’s ships were used to 
remain forty years ago. 
The castle is strengthened with bastions at the north, south, and 
eastern angles ; but is deficient at the western one, which is that 
which would prove most destructive to ships entering the harbour : 
there are nine guns, eighteen pounders, mounted ; they are the only 
cannon Bengazi can boast of, and the walls which support them 
would not long withstand the broadside of a man-of-war brig. 
