TRIPOLY TO BENGAZI. 
•279 
that the term has originated with them. As the pecuharities of the 
Gulfs of Syrtis appear to be more striking than those of the territory 
within them, it is also probable that the country would have been 
named from them, and not the gulfs from the country ; particularly 
as the Phoenicians were a naval nation, and may be supposed (at the 
early period to which we allude) to have been better acquainted with 
the Gulfs than with the country here in question. 
The Phoenician (or Hebrew) words from which the term Syrtis 
might originate, are probably the roots of the Arab phrase Sahara 
(1^*5), to which Signor Della Celia appears to allude; but instead 
of applying them to the country of the Syrtis, as expressive of its 
barren and desolate appearance, we should rather apply them to the 
Gulfs themselves, as expressive of the violent storms of wind which 
are known to prevail in them, and of the agitation and confusion 
resulting from their influence. 
The terms to which we allude are the Hebrew words Saar 
or Saarat (jrii?p), signifying whirlwind, or tempest; and the root 
Saar from which they spring, expressive of agitation and dis- 
turbance ; Soarah (myo)? tempest-tossed, is also another derivative 
of Saar. 
We have very slender pretensions to any skill in Hebrew, and 
merely offer the above suggestions for the consideration of those 
who may be inclined to reject the Greek origin of the term Syrtis ; 
which, for our own part, we are very well contented to allow, on the 
authority of the writers already quoted, and on inspection of one 
of the places in question. It may be possible, however, that some 
