" tis, form vaft refervoirs calculated to con- 

 ? tain the fuperfluous waters, and at length 

 to fpread them over the adjacent plains." 

 He likewife fays, " Some great dykes, the 

 ruins of which are to be feen, ferved to 

 keep in the river ; others were oppofed to 

 the torrents of fand, which have a conti- 

 nual tendency to cover the face of Egypt." 

 Thefe canals were fpread over the whole 

 country, like the branches of a large tree. 



The immenfe fum thefe grand works would 

 cofl is almofl beyond our conception. In- 

 deed, at this diftance of time, it is impoflible 

 to calculate the expence. Yet we are fure^ 

 whatever the fums were, although many 

 millions fterling, they were amply paid for 

 their trouble and expence, when thefe canals 

 were kept in repair. But now, we are in- 

 formed, that a great number of them are 

 choaked up ; and, of courfe, the produce is 

 not one hundredth part of what it was in an- 

 tient times. 



This fliews us, that the beft calculated 

 fchemes that ever were invented for any kind 

 of improvement, if not perfevered in, will 

 loon go to ruin. 



The dimeniions of lake Moeris were afto- 



ni filing, 



