Page:History of Greece Vol IV.djvu/51

FERTILITY OF THE KYRENAIC REGION. 33 and Hesperides, produced oil and wine as well as corn, while the extensive district between these towns, composed of alternate mountain, wood, and plain, was eminently suited for pasture and cattle-breeding ; and the ports were secure, presenting conve- niences for the intercourse of the Greek trader with Northern Africa, such as were not to be found along all the coasts of the Great Syrtis westward of Hesperides. Abundance of applica- ble land, great diversity both of climate and of productive season, between the sea-side, the low hill, and the upper moun- tain, within a small space, so that harvest was continually going on, and fresh produce coming in from the earth, during eight months of the year, together with the monopoly of the valua- ble plant called the Silphium, which grew nowhere except in the Kyrenaic region, and the juice of which was extensively de- manded throughout Greece and Italy, led to the rapid growth of Kyrene, in spite of serious and renewed political troubles. And even now, the immense remains which still mark its desolate site, the evidences of past labor and solicitude at the Fountain of in Thrige's Historia Cyrenes is defective, as the author seems never to have seen the careful and valuable observations of Captain Beechey, and pro- ceeds chiefly on the statements of Delia Cella. I refer briefly to a few among the many interesting notices of Captain Beechey. For the site of the ancient Hesperides (Bengazi), and the " beau- tiful fertile plain near it, extending to the foot of a long chain of mountains about fourteen miles distant to the south-eastward," see Beechey, Expedi- tion, ch. xi, pp. 287-315; "a great many datepalm-trees in the neighbor- hood," (ch. xii, pp. 340-345.) The distance between Bengazi (Hesperides) and Ptolemeta (Ptolemais, the port of Barka) is fifty-seven geographical miles, along a fertile and beautiful plain, stretching from the mountains to the sea. Between these two was situated the ancient Teucheira (ib. ch. xii, p. 347), about thirty- eight miles from Hesperides (p. 349). in a country highly productive wherever it is cultivated (pp. 350-355). Exuberant vegetation exists near the deserted Ptolemeta, or Ptolemais, after the winter rains (p. 364). The circuit of Ptolemais, as measured by the ruins of its walls, was about three and a half English miles (p. 380). The road from Barka to Kyrene presents continued marks of ancient chariot-wheels (ch. xiv, p. 406) ; after passing the plain of Merge, it be- comes hilly and woody, "but on approaching Grcnna (Kyrene) it becomes more clear of wood ; the valleys produce fine crops of barley, and the hillj excellent pasturage for cattle," (p. 409.) Luxuriant Vegetation after th* winter rains in the vicinity of Kyrene (ch. xv, p. 465). VOL. iv. 9* 3oe.