Litchfield enquirer., 1879-04-17

lte, nall submerged In the water.
 Mounting the point of ruins to the right, I arrived at the foundations of the seaward cas- tie, where an Arab policeman, sent by the gov ernor of Lebida, awaits our party. He was grim-looking old Turk, who eyed us suspi- ciously, his purpose was not so much to pro- tect us from the natives, as to seize and claim anything of value we might find, as is the cus- tom with the officials in these parts. The Arabs, or rather their rulers the Turks, are very jealous of any attempt on the part of Europeans to remove the antiquities of the country, and their dog in-the-manger policy is great annoyance to explorers.
 Beneath the castle is large arched passage of splendid masonry which was probably the outlet of the subterranean aqueduct that SUD- piled the city with water. lowered myself into the passage through hole in the vault but found it impossible to proceed for any dis tance as it is stopped with sand. This attempt to gratify curiosity resulted in good wetting from the surf, which came booming in at the entrance with great force.
 Some distance from the castle among drifts of sand and heaps of stones are what appear to have been the corners of temple The walls have fallen, but two square columns about thirty feet high, remain They are built of blocks beautifully joined, and still retaining | the outline of slight curve.
 | At the foot of this structure lie three shafts of fine serpentine marble, each thirty feet in length, and three feet eight inches in diameter The sand is covered with fragments of various kinds of marble, granite, pottery, and the bases and chapters of columns; some of the latter are beautiful in designs of the Corinthi- an order, other are rather of the Byzantine style. Considering the vicissitudes to which they have been exposed they are very per- feet.
 the tile fues probably for the purpose of heat ing a tepidariatm, being similar to those 80 we'll preserved in the baths of Caracalla. It is said that fine mosaics and statues have been found among these ruins, but saw noth ing of the kind except portion of the statue of a woman, and colossal female head, the features much mutilated, most likely by the hands of the Arabs, who have always been the most enthusiastic of iconoclasts. The sand has so completely covered everything that it would be impossible to find anything of value without regular system of excava- tion.
 AS we arrived at the remains of magnifi- cent triumphal arch, we found that the English consular agent who accompanied us had kind ly anticipated our need, for we were by this time very thirsty and hot. Under the arch was donkey equipped with panniers we'll equip ped with beer.
 The Consul stated that the Arabs found coins and articles of value from time to time, among the ruins, especially after heavy gale or rain. Most of the treasures are found on the beach, washed up by the waves. It is very probable that the city extended far out into the Mediterranean, and sailors have re- ported that they could see ruins at the bottom in fine weather The sea is shallow and clear and this statement is not improbable.
 Several Arab boys and shepherds, prompted by curiosity, gathered around our party. They appeared haf-fed and ignorant, and were clad in rags ;all had their heads closely shaven and covered with a red fez. Their only gar ment was light blanket of cotton and wool stuff, enveleping the head and falling in folds to the feet, draped about the figure like the Roman tega, so as to leave the right arm free. It was rather dangerous to approach these people, not because of their sanguinary dispo- stions, but by reason of the feas that infest their persons.
 The triumphal arch under which we rested, is built of huge blocks of hewn stones, and does not appear to have been covered with a coating of marble. In form it resembles the arch of Titus at Rome but is much more mas sive. It bears no traces of having been erna- mented with statues and bas-reliefs, and the remains of cornices and mouldIngs indicate severe style of architecture. The materials of which the arch is built as we'll as those of the larger buildings appear to be kind of traver- tine.
 The size of many blocks is remarkable, and they are careful fitted together without any cement
 The accumulation of 30 much stone and val uable marble is the more wonderful, from the fact that all the material must have been brought from great dist ances probably from Egypt and Sicily, for there are no quarries in the region of Tripoli.
 The triumphal arch faces the entrance to the street of the city, the marble gate-posts of which remain, together with portion of the cir cult walls. There are remains of massive tow CTS which defended this gate, one of which has part of the first and second stories still stand ing, and severgl of it's arched windows almost perfect. The towers are built very solidly of layers of burnt brick and cement
 Several of the largest and most imposing buildings were situated near the arch, interest ing traces of which remain Among them is large semi-circular structure, a section of which has been broken away by the action of water upon its foundations, and now lies in the bed of the river, as solid as the living rock, and retaining it's form perfectly. Again and again enc is impressed with the firmness of this ancient masonry, worthy to be compared with that of the Colosseum and the palace of the StSarS.
 The superstructures of two temples may be plainly traced. One of them retains it's lower walls completely, on one side pierced by three large square door-ways.
 On the opposite side of the street are three | finely arched door-ways beautifully sculptur- l ed
 Most of the designs on capitals and cornices prove how little the style of ornamentation has varied slnce remote period. The egg and ar- row moulding, combinations of vine, oak and acanthus leaves, are found as in the architectral designs of today: The sculpture is beautifully clear and delicate entirely free from vegetable growth, and slight removal of the sand brings to light very perfect specimens. | There is one building of white marble. which