BENGAZI. 
333 
single letter*. Without reference to the authority of the most ap- 
proved manuscripts, we may observe, on that only of local inspection, 
that either of these words would be correct. It has already been 
stated that the Harbour of Bengazi communicates with a salt-water 
lake, and it is probable that in Strabo’s time the vessels of the an- 
cients might have passed from one into the other. The harbour and 
the lake might in that event be considered without any impropriety 
as the same. It is into this lake that the small stream discharges 
itself which w^e have alluded to above, and if we can suppose it to be 
the remains of the Lathon, the statement of Strabo may be considered 
as confirmed by the actual appearance of the place. If, however, we 
are disposed to be sceptical on this point, we must give up the river 
altogether, or, at least, we must give up the re-appearance of it in the 
lake and in the Harbour of Hesperis, or Berenice ; for no other 
spring, that we are aware of, flows either into one or the other. It 
is probable that was the word used by Strabo, and it seems also 
probable that he intended to imply, that the harbour and the lake he 
calls Tritonis, on which stood the temple of Venus, were the same ; at 
least, in reading the whole of the passage together, we can scarcely 
divest ourselves of this idea f . 
* E(Tti Jh xai Xi/xnv 'E'ttte^iSwv, k'zi Trorapoof e/xQaXXsi Aat&wv. (Lib. 17. p. 836.) 
Some of the Commentators read and Cellarius says on this subject— 
‘ Est et de exitu fluminis dubitatio, in quod se infundat, in mare an in lacum. Straboni 
est in quern Lathon effluit. Vetus autem interpres iterum dissentit, et 
quasi Xipt,™ legerit, lacus vertit Hesperidum. Videant (he adds) quibus vel regionem co- 
gnoscendi, vel inspiciendi antiques codices, facultas est. (Lib. iv. c. ii.) 
h E<m Ss axgfl! XEyopcEvn 'Psi/So^Eviar, E(p’ v>s ri BEgEvixn rnv eXpEi, Tiaqz Xiptvnv Tivst 
T§tTo/nSa, Ev 7) (/.aXiarx vtjo-jov eitti, xai is^ov AipgoSiTvs- sv avrco’ euti Se xai Xiptnv Eutte^iScdv, 
XXI TTorafxos E/xfaXXEi Aa&wv. 
