BENGAZI. 
363 
will appear in the plan of Ptoleraeta. There are also remains of stone 
conductors leading into these cisterns from the mountains at the back 
of the town, and as rain usually falls in great quantities during the 
winter they must have been for the most part well supplied. We 
searched in vain for some inscription on the walls of these buildings 
which might throw light on the period of their construction or resto- 
ration, but were unable to discover one in any part of them : the 
arches which form the roofs are well turned and constructed in the 
usual manner, with a key-stone. We may add, that these cisterns 
still afford a very copious supply to the Arab tribes of the neighbour- 
hood, although no care is taken to lead the rain into them ; and 
we found the water which they contained on our arrival at Ptolemeta 
uncommonly cool and delightful. 
The greater part of the town, on our first visits to it, was thickly 
overgrown with wild marigolds and camomile, to a height of four and 
five feet, and patches of corn were here and there observable grow- 
ing equally within the city walls The solitude of the place was 
at the same time unbroken by animals of any description ; if we except 
a small number of jackals and hyaenas, which strayed down after 
sunset in search of water, and a few owls and bats which started out 
from the ruins as we disturbed them by our near and unexpected 
approach. Appeals of this kind are always irresistible; and the 
contrast which presented itself between the silence and desolation 
* After sowing the corn, the Arabs leave it to enjoy the advantages of the winter 
rains, and never j-eturn to it till it comes to matui'ity and is ready to be cut and carried 
away. 
3 A 2 
