banks, although nearly one thousand yards in breadth ; 

 and that too without much assistance from the alluvion 

 of the Nile. 



On this subject, Mr. Rennell observes : " A proof 

 of the length of time, required to fill up such a channel, 

 (if ever it be completed at all) is, that the deserted bed 

 just mentioned, remains visible, although the change 

 happened before the foundation of Memphis. It must 

 however be considered, that the mound, by preventing 

 the free access of the Nile water, charged with its 

 inud, has doubtless retarded the operation in this in- 

 stance. "# 



The mound, of which Mr. 'Rennell speaks, is that I 

 presume, which was raised by Menes to turn the course 

 of the Nile. If so, we can scarcely suppose, that there 

 was any access of the waters of the Nile into its an- 

 cient bed, in that direction, much less a free access; 

 for had the waters been suffered to flow through, or 

 over that mound, in any degree, it would ultimately have 

 made a breach through it, and defeated every purpose 

 that was intended. Consequently, we may reasonably 

 conclude, that but very little aid was derived from that 

 source, in filling up the old channel, or, in fact, from 

 any other, by deposites of alluvion ; for he says, (page 

 5QJ with respect to the level of the sand hills through 

 which the channels run, that they " are far above that 

 of the present river, whose bed must once have been a 

 vast deal lower than it now is. ?5 



* Rennell's Herodotu?, p. 5 ( <2. 



