Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v3p1.djvu/329

  of the term; and here the shelter is afforded only by breakers, and could not prevent the small vessels of the ancients from being driven on shore in stormy weather.

“On the day after our arrival at Tabilba, we continued our journey along the coast, and proceeded to Ain Agàn, (lat. 30° 33' 57" N., long. 19° 60' 42" E.) To seaward, we observed an island about a mile in length, with breakers east and west of it, extending a considerable distance. The Arab name for this island (which is Gàra) too much resembles that of Gaia, one of those laid down by Ptolemy, to leave much doubt of their being the same. At about a mile from the shore, nearly opposite Aàlum Limirish, is a remarkably white rock, about forty feet high, and steep on all sides; it has breakers scattered about it, and should not be closely approached till better known: beyond this rock, which is called Ishaifa, we perceived the sea breaking heavily over another rock, as much as four miles from the shore, which extends itself in reefs towards Gàra. On coming abreast of Gàra, which lies about six miles off shore, we had a good opportunity of observing it with our glasses; it appeared to be covered with verdure, and we thought we perceived some appearances of building upon it. It was in vain that we longed for some means of crossing over to this island, for there is not a boat or a vessel of any description to be found from one end of the Gulf of Syrtis to the other; but we consoled ourselves with the idea that it would be visited by the officers of the Adventure, which we afterwards found to have been the case.

“Near Sheibah (lat. 30° 38' 35", long. 19° 58' 23") we found the water tasted very strong of sulphur, besides being brackish and stinking; but among some sand-hills two miles beyond it, there were several wells of sweet water: a circumstance which it is essential to know, as the water of Sheibah can scarcely be called drinkable, and there is no other but that just alluded to, at less than two days from the place.

“At a short distance from Rhout el Assoud (lat. 30° 50', long. 20° 6'), wc observed to the north-eastward, about a mile distant from the shore, six rocks connected by breakers, under which there appeared to be good anchorage for small vessels: the coast opposite them is low, and formed in shallow sandy bays, some of which have rocks extending across their entrance, and would afford protection for boats. On the following day we reached Carcora, where there are two coves which would serve for boats: they may be known by some high sand-hills lying between them, and by two ruins situated upon the hills inland nearly abreast of them. At the foot of the sand-hills there are some springs of fresh water, remarkably sweet and good, within a few feet of an extensive salt-marsh, and on the same level with it. With the exception of the above coves, there is nothing whatever of any interest en the coast between Carcora and Bengazi, the former situated in lat. 31° 26' 23", long. 20° 2' 45"; the latter in lat. 32° 6' 54", and built upon the site once occupied by Berenice, the most western city of the Pontapolis.

