Chap. 10.] ACCOUNT OP COUNTRIES, ETC. 415 



the frontiers of jEtliiopia ; that is the name of a peninsula a 

 mile in circumference, upon which Castra^ is situate, on the 

 side of Arabia. Opposite to it are the four islands of 

 PhiliB^, at a distance of 600 miles from the place where 

 the Nile divides into two channels ; at which spot, as 

 we have already stated, the Delta, as it is called, begins. 

 This, at least, is the distance, according to Artemidorus, 

 who also informs us that there were in it 250 towns ; Juba 

 says, however, that the distance between these places is 400 f 

 miles. Aristocreon says that the distance from Elephantis 

 to the sea is 750 miles ; Elephantis^ being an inhabited 

 island four miles below the last Cataract, sixteen"* beyond 

 Syene, 585 from Alexandria, and the extreme limit of the 

 na\ngation of Egypt. To such an extent as this have the 

 above-named authors* been mistaken! This island is the 

 place of rendezvous for the vessels of the -Ethiopians : they 

 are made to fold up^, and the people carry them on their 

 shoulders w^henever they come to the Cataracts. 



just below the First Cataract, and was looked upon as the southern 

 frontier city of Egypt against j^thiopia. It was an important point in 

 the geography and astronomy of the ancients ; for, lying just under the 

 tropic of Cancer, it was chosen as the place through wliich they drew 

 their chief parallel of latitude. The sim was vertical to Syene at tho 

 time of the summer solstice, and a well was 8ho^vn there where the face 

 of the sun was seen at noon at that time. Its present name is Assouan 

 or Ossouan. 



^ If tliis word means the " Camp," it does not appear to be known 

 what camp is meant. Most editions have "Cerastse," in wliich case it 

 would mean that at Syene the Cerastes or horned serpent is foimd. 



2 One of these (if indeed PhUfC did consist of more than a single 

 island, which seems doubtful) is now known as Djeziret-cl-Birbc, tho 

 "Island of the Temple." 



3 Tliis island was seated just below the Lesser Cataract, opposite Syene, 

 and near the western bank of the Nile. At this point the river becomes 

 navigable downward to its mouths, and the traveller from Meroe or 

 Ethiopia enters Egyjit Proper. The original name of this island was 

 " Ebo," Eb being in the language of hieroglyphics the symbol of tbe ele- 

 phant and ivory. It was remarkable for its fertility and verdure, and 

 the Arabs of the present day designate the island as Djesirct-el-Sag, or 

 " the Blooming." 



* This is a mistake of Pliny's, for it was opposite to Syene. Brotier 

 thinks that Pliny intended to write ' Philaj,' but by mistake inserted Syene. 



6 Artemidorus, Juba, and Aristocreon. 



^ They were probably made of papyrus, or else of liides, like the British 

 coracles. 



