299 



It must not be understood, however, that the eleva- 

 tion of the bed of the river was occasioned, simply, by 

 the deposition of the alluvion natural to the current. 

 We are now to take into view the enormous quaiitity 

 \vhich is supplied indirectly through the labours of 

 man ; as the offals and rubbish of every kind that 

 daily fall into it from Thebes, and other cities above, 

 as well as from Memphis. This circa instance ought 

 to be kept in view, as it respects all the cities, that 

 were subsequently built on the borders of the Nile; 

 an:l throughout the entire extent and formation of the 

 delta. Thus, from the check opposed to the current 

 of the river, the elevation of its bed, the annual inun- 

 dations, the irruptions through its banks, the digging 

 of canals, the cultivation of the grounds, thereby ex- 

 posing them to the operations of the winds, which are 

 almost constantly raising and shifting the soil, from 

 one place to another, the low lands adjacent to the 

 river were gradually filled up, and new districts 

 formed for cultivation, and for the building of other 

 cities ; which, as soon as commenced, formed another 

 source from which the low grounds were filled up and 

 extended by the direct and indirect labours of man. 

 That is, by building and improving; and in the course 

 of time pulling down and rebuilding, and that too 

 through a series of ages. 



There are but few persons, perhaps, who would 

 imagine that any material difference could be produced 

 fro n this cause. But it must be recollected, that 

 almost the entire quantity of materials employed in the 



