290 



for a more favourable opinion, when all the facts are 

 fairly stated and duly considered. 



The first thing to be taken into consideration, in re- 

 lation to the delta of the Nile, is the original state of 

 that district, now occupied by the delta ; and the an- 

 cient mouth, or point at which that river originally 

 mingled its waters with those of the Mediterranean 

 sea. 



It seems that Herodotus learnt from the Egyptians 

 that Menes was their first king ; and that in his time, 

 all Jgypt, except the country of Thebes, was one con- 

 tinued marsh. And that no part of the present land 

 then appeared below the lake of Myris.* 



From this circumstance, without doubt, Herodotus 

 was inclined to believe that the whole of lower .Egypt, 

 or at least the part occupied by the delta, was once an 

 arm of the sea.f 



It seems that Diodorus Siculus, was of the same 

 opinion, as were also Pliny,$ Volney^ and Dr. 

 Shaw, || And when all the circumstances which I 

 shall endeavour to bring into view, are taken into con- 

 sideration, it will appear highly probable ; and also, 

 that at the period mentioned by Herodotus, " the whole 

 of Egypt, except the province of Thebes, was one ex* 

 tended marsh." 



* Herodotus Euterpe, chap, 4. 



t See Herodotus Euterpe", chap. 10. 



| Plin. Hist. Nat. lib- 2. cap. 85. 



Volney's Travels, p 34. 



(I Shaw's Travels, p. 330, and 437 



