Chapter IV

Arrival at Lebida — Remarks on its position and resources
as compared with those of Tripoly — Short account of the
City and its remains — Allusion to the African Tribe Levatæ
(or Levata) by Procopius — The same Tribe mentioned by Leo
Africanus — Suggestions of Major Rennell on the resemblance
between the terms Levata and Libya — Former position of
this Tribe near the Coast confirmed by Procopius — Remarks
on the term Lybia — Visit from the Shekh of Lebida —
Violent Storm at that place retards the advance of the party
— Intrusion upon the premises of a celebrated Marábūt
— Dangerous consequences of this intrusion predicted by our
escort — Departure from Lebida — Remains of the Aqueduct,
and of the Causeway mentioned by Strabo — Arrive at the River
Cinyphus, now Wad’ el Kháhan — Remarks on the River and
the Morass in its immediate Neighbourhood — Observations on
the faulty position of the Cinyphus in the Maps of Cellarius
— This position probably suggested by some remarks of Pliny,
Ptolemy, and Mela — Extreme fertility of the region of the
Cinyphus — Remarks on this district, and that of Byzacium
— Suggestions of Signor Della Cella with respect to them —
Present appearance of the region of the Cinyphus consistent
with the description of Herodotus — Neglected condition of
the district under the Arabs — Account of Lebida and its
remains by Captain Smyth 50