TRIPOLY TO BENGAZI. 
257 
hundred and twenty-five Roman miles, which are equal to four hun- 
dred and ninety-four geographic miles, and will therefore leave a 
difference of seventy-two geographic miles between this measurement 
of the circuit and the actual one. The difference also exists on the 
wrong side ; that is to say, the whole distance of Pliny is not only 
much more than the actual distance by observations, but much 
more than the actual road-distance, which is the longest which can 
be allow ed. The diameter of the gulf, already stated, of this author, 
will be found to coincide remarkably well with the measurement 
which may be deduced from the distance he has given us in another 
place, between the cities of Leptis Magna and Berenice, of three 
hundred and eighty-five Roman miles * : for the distance between 
Lebida (Leptis Magna) and Mesurata, the western extremity of the 
gulf, may be reckoned at fifty-eight geographic miles, equal to 
seventy-three Roman miles ; so that this being deducted from the 
whole distance given, of three hundred and eighty-five M.P. we shall 
have a remainder of three hundred and twelve of the same for 
the distance between Mesurata and Bengazi, leaving a difference of 
only one mile between the diameter of the gulf thus deduced and 
that above stated of three hundred and thirteen. But although we 
may infer, from the coincidence of the two measurements, that the 
three hundred and twelve miles in question may be taken as distance 
across the gulf, they are by no means stated to be such in the text ; 
and if they had chanced to coincide with the circumference instead 
* Nec procul ante Oppidum (Berenice) fluvius Lethon, lucus sacer, ubi Hesperidum 
horti memorantur. Abest a Lepti CCCLXXXV. M. P. — (Lib. v. cap. 5.) 
