390 
PTOLEMETA TO MERGE. 
we looked, in our progress, from the hill to the valley, or from the 
valley to the side of the hill, the view was equally delightful. 
After quitting the Arab tents, we entered a most beautiful valley 
extending itself in a north-easterly and south-westerly direction; 
and three hours more, over hills and through vales,^ which it would 
be useless and almost endless to describe, we arrived at the plain of 
Merge, a long sweep of flat country of mingled pasture and cultiva- 
tion, bounded on either side by a range of wooded hills about five 
miles distant from each other, and stretching from north-east to 
south-west as far as the eye could reach. The water from the moun- 
tains inclosing the plain settles in pools and lakes in different parts 
of this spacious valley ; and affords a constant supply, during the 
summer months, to the Bedouin tribes who frequent it. Although 
the ranges of hills which we have described as inclosing it give to 
Merge the appearance of a valley, it must be recollected that it is 
situated on the top of a chain of mountains of no inconsiderable 
elevation ; and if we have mentioned it as an extensive plain, it must 
also be considered as a tract of table-land raised far above the level 
of the sea. In looking over what we shall presently have occasion to 
mention respecting the town and the neighbourhood of Barka, it will 
be necessary to bear this in mind; but before we enter upon the 
subject we must add to our journal the few incidents which occurred 
during our stay at Merge. 
It was not our intention to have remained a moment in this valley, 
as we were anxious to get to Cyrene as soon as possible; but on sig- 
nifying our intentions of proceeding farther, (for the day was not half 
