a continuation of the sandy coast of Lybia, or eke 

 an inland."* 



It is to this cause that many parts of Egypt, once 

 rich and fertile, have already become barren and de- 

 solate, whilst the whole space contained within its li- 

 mits, is fast progressing towards that state, in which its 

 inhabitants must experience all the horrours of a per- 

 petual famine :f for the lands are becoming more and 

 more elevated and extended, and when no longer over- 

 flowed by the Nile, they must inevitably become as 

 barren and unproductive, as the neighbouring deserts, 

 which are now supplying the means of their des- 

 truction. In speaking of the elevation of the soil of 

 Egypt, Mr. Shaw observes, " Thus in process of time, 

 this whole country may be raised to such a height, that 

 the river will not be able to overflow its banks ; and 

 Egypt, consequently, from being the most fertile will, 

 for want of the annual inundation, become one of the 

 most barren parts of the universe ."J 



"The ancient Egyptians," says M. Denon, " speak 

 of this encroachment of the sand;;, under the symbol of 

 the mysterious entrance of Typhon into the bed of his 

 sister-in-law Isis ; an incest which is to change Egypt 

 into a desert^ as frightful as those by which it is encom- 

 passed ; and this great event will happen, when the 

 Nile finds a lower level, through some one of the sur- 



* .Shaw's Travels, pae 339. 



t See Herodotus Euterpe, Chap. 14. f Do. page 441. 



