42 On (he Arabian Frontier of Egypt. 



mine whether the above indications are truly vestiges of a 

 former water-course ; or whether the termination of its course 

 beyond MiGDOL must be referred to the only possible alter- 

 native, that would make it follow the middle of the southern 

 arm of Lake Menzaleh, so as to become reunited to its pa- 

 rent, the Pelusiac channel, about half-way between Taii- 

 PANES and Sin or Felusiimi. 



Strabo's account of the entire tract about PeUisium, brief 

 as it is, shews clearly that it must have been a very low re- 

 gion, flat, and full of minor hollows, which are now all in- 

 cluded in Lake Menzaleh. " Beyond the Tanitic and Pelusiac 

 mouths, there are lakes, and great and continuous marshes, 

 in which are many villages. Pelusium itself is surrounded by 

 marshes and pools, which some call clefts (or pits) (^a^a^ga)."* 

 That part of Lake Menzaleh is now very shallow, averaging 

 from three to eight feet only. 



Such an alteration in tlie most unimportant part of the 

 Etham river's course, would, however, in no wise affect the 

 main proposition of our geographical theory, that such an 

 eastern frontier channel of the Nile existed, and was natu- 

 rally open and navigable till two centuries before the time 

 of Herodotus ; and would continue so to this day, had it not 

 been kept ever since then, and did it not still remain, sup- 

 pressed by art. 



{To he continued.) 



* Strabo, Geog., lib. xvii., § 802. 



