CHAPTER III. Geographical Observations relating to Egypt. No part of the coast of Egypt, which fell under my observation, could be seen afar off. The mariners, in approaching it, estimate the distance by the depth of water; such a number of fathoms usually answering to the same number of leagues. That portion of it particularly, which lies betwixt Tineh*, the ancient Pelusium, and the branch of Dami-ata, is exceedingly low, and full of lakes and morasses; agreeing so far, even to this day, with the etymology of the name. The lakes abound with a variety of excellent fish; which they either dispose of, whilst they are fresh, among the neighbouring villages, or else they salt and sell them afterwards to the Grecian merchants. Dami-ata is one of the most considerable cities for trade in Egypt. It lies upon the eastern banks of the Nile, at five miles distance from the sea, and about sixty to the N. N. W. of Ti * From neh. (Tin) clay or mud, rendered by the Greeks , from λes, a word of the like signification in their lan στον, guage, neh. The branch that runs by it has been generally received for the Pelusiac, by mistaking this city for the ancient Pelusium; whereas Dami-ata seems rather to be a corruption of its ancient name Thamiathis, or Tau, as Epiphanius writes it. This branch therefore, as well from the situation as the largeness of it, should be the Pathmetic, or Phatnic, as Strabo calls it; betwixt which and the Pelusiac, were the Mendesian and the Tanitic; but of these I could receive no information. Sixteen leagues to the N. N. W. of the Pathmetic mouth, is Cape Brullos, where the Sebennitic branch is supposed to have discharged itself; after which follows the Bolbutic, at seventeen leagues distance to the S. W. by W. This is called at present the branch of Rozetto, or Rassid, as the inhabitants pronounce it, from a large and populous city, situated about a league above the mouth of it. Rassid however may import a cape or head-land, such as it might orginally have stood upon, before the additions, which will be hereafter mentioned, were made to it by the Nile. At Me-dea, the ancient Heraclium, four leagues further, there is another branch of the Nile, though much smaller than the former; and two leagues beyond it, in the same westerly direction, we have an inlet, with some ruins known by the name of Bikeer. As this place lies five leagues from Alexandria, and the branch of Me-dea seven, we may be induced, from the authority of Strabo, |