such a mission, from his natural ardour, his attainments, his professional habits, and above all, his very complete assumption of the Moorish character. After the naval and military objects are considered, a research could be made for the two great Roman roads that led to Cydamis, the present Gadam; a town, I am led to believe, of the utmost importance to travellers in the interior, as being the resort of numerous trading caravans.
“The site of the celebrated altars of the Philaeni would form a satisfactory point; for though they appear no longer to have existed in the time of Strabo, their situation might perhaps be placed by approximation.
“Enquiries might be made respecting the Silphium, a famous shrub which must have existed in abundance, as sugar was made from it; though others report that it bore benzoin and assafoetida; – that marked on the ancient coins, bears a strong resemblance to the large apncynum which grows on most parts of this coast.
“We have no proof respecting the fossil called sal-ammoniac, said by Pliny to have been found in great quantity below the sand, in a district of Cyrenaica.
“Rare coins, and medallions of the Pentapolis, may perhaps be procured, of which the most valuable are those erroneously named Ophellas, especially when large; the usual types arc the head of Ammon, with the Silphium as a reverse, and the legend kυpa or bapk; but those of the state, and not belonging to any individual city, had the word koinon; there is also a silver coin with the Punic characters ____ v15 of tolerable execution.
“Enquiries could also be directed towards the celebrated scarlet dye possessed by those countries so many ages, and of which the Cynoinorium Coccineum is supposed to form the principal ingredient.
“Attention could be paid to the petrified palms and fossils, in the vicinity of Augila, and in fact to the whole detail of the Deserts of Lybia. Of these the vicinity of Cyrene was reported as fertile, well watered, and possessed of forests and pasturages. It is plain to me, that the remains of the city of Cyrene (now called Grenna) are extensive, and that its famous fountain still affords a constant supply of the purest water: views, plans, and copies of inscriptions therefore, in this important place, appear to promise a gratifying illustration of the invaluable writings of Herodotus.
“"The situation of the Garden of the Hesperides, reported to have been near Berenice, would also be a desirable object; as would the complete exploration of Taukra. the ancient Teuchira, and of Tolometa that formed the Port Barca, which I believe possesses tine remains of the magnificence of the Ptolomies.
“After the examination of Cyrenaica, and the Deserts of Barca and Augila, the grand question of the junction of the Nile and the Niger could be considered; and if confidence, ability, and perseverance are applied, I see no chance of a failure. In fact, I must here state my regret that the late expedition for the interior was so hastily formed.
“With a view of further illustrating this matter, I beg leave to subjoin
