TRIPOLY TO BENGAZI. 
233 
creed or nation, to leave their own tents unsatisfied, should he apply 
to them for relief. But such is the inconsistency of Arab character ; 
and it may perhaps be said, that he who should consider them as a 
generous nation, because they practised this species of hospitality, 
would be as much deceived in his opinion of them, as he would be 
who should imagine that they have no liberal feelings, because they 
are well skilled in selfish tricks and manoeuvres. 
On leaving Braiga, we travelled over a hilly country to the east- 
ward, and passed two interesting ruins of ancient forts, of which we 
contrived to obtain plans. About noon we halted near a bold rocky 
promontory, called by the Arabs Tabilba, on which are the remains 
of a castle. On a hill just above it are the ruins of a very strong 
fortification, which was connected with the castle by a wall of five 
feet in thickness carried quite round the precipice on which it stood. 
This was defended on the inland side by a fosse of thirty feet in 
width excavated in the solid rock ; and the rubbish extracted from 
it was piled up to form a bank on the outer side. On the beach are 
the remains of a wall remarkably well constructed, or it never could 
so long have resisted the violence of the surf which beats against it. 
It appears to have formed part of a landing-place or quay which has 
originally been built in its immediate neighbourhood. The interior of 
the rock on which the castle stands has been excavated into numerous 
galleries and chambers, which seem to have answered the purpose of 
barracks. Some of these are very spacious and very well finished ; but 
the dash of the sea, which now washes through the exterior chambers, 
has completely destroyed their surface, and has left them in parts so 
