THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 55 



to the Shckh by fome of his friends, from fome of the vil- 

 lages up the river. 



The learned Dr Pococke, as far as I know, is the firft 

 European traveller that ventured to go out of the beaten 

 path, and look for Memphis, at Metrahenny andMohannam 



Dr Shaw, who in judgment, learning, and candour, is 

 equal to Dr Pococke, or any of thofe that have travelled into 

 Egypt, contends warmly for placing it at Geeza. 



Mr Niebuhr, the Danifh traveller, agrees with Dr Pococke 

 I believe neither Shaw nor Niebuhr were ever at Metra- 

 henny, which Dr Pococke and myfelf vifited ; though all 

 of us have been often enough at Geeza, and I muft con- 

 fefs, ftrongly as Dr Shaw has urged his arguments, I can- 

 not confider any of the reafons for placing Memphis at 

 Geeza as convincing, and very few of them that do not go 

 to prove juft the contrary in favour of Metrahenny. 



Bfeore I enter into the argument, I muft premife, that 

 Ptolemy, if he is good for any thing, if he merits the hun- 

 dredth part of the pains that have been taken with him by 

 his commentators, muft furely be received as a competent 

 authority in this cafe. 



The inquiry is into the pofition of the old capital of E- 

 gypt, not fourfcore miles from the place where he was 

 writing, and immediately in dependence upon it. And 

 therefore, in dubious cafes, I fhall have no doubt to refer to 



him. as deferving the great? redit 



Dr 



