Letters of on African Traveller. 377 



towns, ten bishoprics, seventy principalities, and which can 

 produce 50,000 champions for the protection of its precious 

 liberty. 



Third Letter q/*AMiRo to Canova. 



Cairo, December 1, 1820. 



When I write to Canova I think I am writing to my 

 native country, for you are its first-born. 



Leaving Horeb and Sinai, from the summits of which I gazed 

 at lands which form lucid points in the blaze of human intellect, 

 I descended into the country of Elim, where still are to be seen 

 the wells and the palms that quenched the thirst of the Jews. 



Having cooled myself in Tor, where I tried its waters, I 

 returned by the road of Suez to Cairo, and going down to 

 Alexandria, I turned towards the Lake Mareotis, thence to 

 that of Madiar and Edeo, and making an excursion in merry 

 company to the beautiful Rosetta, I traversed the branch 

 Bolbitina, the Delta, and arrived at the ruins of Batis, and 

 the mouth of Sebene upon the branch of Fammeticus in 

 modern Damiatus. 



Embarking thence upon the Lake of Memale, and arrived at 

 the islands of Mataria, I advanced into the canal of Moez, 

 whence I might view the scattered remains of Tanis, and re- 

 turning to the lake, recognised the mouths Taniticus and Pe* 

 lusiacus, with the Rogasus of Rahi, 



Disembarked upon the shore, I arrived through the desert at 

 the sides of the mountain Casius, and the day following as- 

 cended that celebrated eminence, whence I came to Pelusium, 

 that famous key of Egypt, and trusting myself once more to the 

 waves, I visited the islands of Tiinnis and Thuna, and passing 

 over the mouth of Mendesius, I returned to Damietta. 



Reposing a little, I took diversion upon the lake, and pene- 

 trated by the canal of Moez into that of Salahie, and descending 

 into the desert, I found endless fields of soda, both vegetable 

 and mineral. 



Whence approaching towards the Nile, I arrived by the canal 

 of Asmufiy at the city of Benhi, the antient Mendes ; thence upon 

 Vol. X. 2 C 



