309 



The tide of the Mediterranean, though moderate, 

 operating, ill some degree, as a check to the current of 

 the Nile, its alluvion would, as before, be deposited in 

 a much greater quantity, where it received this check, 

 as at A, than at any point below. Consequently, 

 when the alluvion had increased by the deposition of 

 successive strata, so far as to appear above water at A, 

 the alluvion at B, a half a league, or league below, 

 where the water is deeper, would remain as much be- 

 low the surface of the water in the gulf or bay, as the 

 difference in the depth of the water at those two points. 



Sdly. The depth of the water in the Mediterranean, 

 at a little distance from the mouth of the Damietta ri- 

 ver, or the ancient Phatmetic's mouth, is, at present, 

 eleven fathoms in depth,* and admitting the depth of 

 the Nile, below Thebes, to have been originally three 

 fathoms, and the descent of the bottom of the gulf, from 

 the one to the other, to have been in a direct line, there 

 remains a difference of eight fathoms. If at about half 

 this distance, as at Memphis, or opposite the lake 

 Mceris, we divide the depth of the water, which is five 

 and a half fathoms, it gives a difference of two and a 

 half fathoms, in the depth of water from Thebes to 

 Memphis. Under these circumstances, and without 



that I cannot discover a single argument in favour of the idea, 

 that this fertile district has been formed by the mud of the river. 

 Fur if, in ancient times, this had actually been the case, how hap- 

 pens it, in these days, the same cause does not produce the same 

 effect." Valentia's Travels, vol. Ill, page 44-8. 

 * Rennell's Herodotus, pasje 487. 



