BOOK V. X. 58x1. 60 



begins ; and each strip of land is so^vn as the flood 

 relinquishes it. It may be added that the Nile is 

 the only river that emits no exhalations. 



It first comes within the territory of Egypt at the 

 Ethiopian frontier, at Assuan — that is the name of 

 the peninsula a mile in circuit in which, on the 

 Arabian side, the Camp is situated and ofF which 

 He the four islands of Philae, 600 miles from the 

 place where the Nile spUts into two channels — the 

 point at which, as we have said, the island called the 

 Deha begins. This is the distance given by Artemi- 

 dorus, who also states that the island formerly con- 

 tained 250 towns ; Juba, however, gives the distance 

 as 400 miles. Aristocreon says that the distance 

 from Elephantis to the sea is 750 miles — Elephantis 

 is an inhabited island 4 miles below the last cataract 

 and 16 above Assuan; it is the extreme Umit 

 of navigation in Egypt, being 585 miles from Alex- 

 andria — so far out in their calculations have the 

 above-named authors been. Elephantis is the point 

 of rendezvous for Ethiopian vessels, which are made 

 collapsible for the purpose of portage on reaching 

 the cataracts. 



XI. In addition to boasting its other glories of the cuiesof 

 past Egypt can claim the distinction of having had ^^^'' 

 in the reign " of King Amasis 20,000 cities ; and 

 even now it contains a very large number, although 

 of no importance. However, the City of Apollo is 

 notable, as is also the City of Leucothea and the 

 Great City of Zeus, also caUed Thebes, renowned for 

 the fame of its hundred gates, Coptos the market 

 near the Nile for Indian and Arabian merchandise, 

 and also the Town of Venus and the Town of Jove 

 and Tentyris, below which is Abydos, famous for 



265 



