BENGAZI. 
339 
CHAPTER XII. 
Remarks on the Soil of Bengazi and the Country in its Neighbourhood — Distinction of Sex 
-A in the Palm-tree, &c., noticed by the Ancients and by Mahometan Writers — Persian Anec- 
dote of a Love-sick Date-tree — Remarks of Shaw on the Propagation and Treatment of the 
Palm— Arab Mode of cultivating the Sandy Tracts in the Neighbourhood of Bengazi— 
Journey to Carcora — Completion of the Coast-line from that Place to Bengazi — Return to 
Bengazi, and Departure for Teuchira and Ptolemeta — Description of the Country between 
Bengazi and these Places — Remains observable in this Track — Correspondence of the Tower 
called Gusser el Towel with that of Cafez, mentioned by Edrisi — Probable Site of Adriane 
— Arrival at Birsis — Remains in its neighbourhood, at Mably (or Mabny), considered as 
those of Neapolis— Hospitality of the Arabs of Birsis — Remains of Teuchira— Position of 
the City— Quarries without the Walls covered with Greek Inscriptions— Teuchira a Town 
of Barca — Walls of the City repaired by Justinian — No Port observable at Teuchira Mis- 
take of Bruce in confounding Teuchira with Ptolemeta — Good Supply of fresh Water at 
Teuchira The excavated Pombs of the ancient City used as Dwelling-houses by the 
Arabs of the Neighbourhood — Indisposition of our Chaous (or Janissary) — Route from Teu- 
chira to Ptolemeta— Remains at Ptolemeta— Port and Cothon of the ancient City— Other 
Remains observable there — Ptolemaic Inscriptions — Picturesque Ravines in the Neighbour- 
hood of Ptolemeta — Position of the City — Remains of Bridges observed there — Advantages 
of its Site — Extreme Drought at Ptolemeta, recorded by Procopius — Reparation of the Aque- 
ducts and Cisterns by the Emperor Justinian — Existing Remains of an extensive Cistern at 
Ptolemeta, probably among those alluded to by Procopius— State of the Town, its Solitude 
and Desolation— Luxuriant Vegetation which encumbered its Streets when the Place was 
first visited by our Party — Change of Scene on returning to it in Summer-time. 
The soil of the Hesperides does not now produce that variety of 
fruit which we find that it did in the days of its prosperity * ; but 
the palm and the fig-tree still flourish there in great abundance, and 
it is merely from the want of attention, and not from any actual 
* Vide Scylax, Theophrastus, and others. 
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