337 



current of this branch of the Nile is influenced by that 

 of the sea, and turned aside ; instead of running per- 

 pendicularly to the course of the branch, it must fol- 

 low, or stretch along the coast of the -delta east of the 

 branch, which is about north-east by east, until it comes 

 to Cape Berelos or Brulos, when, instead of following 

 the coast, it would inevitably be thrown off into the 

 open sea, in the direction of the island of Cyprus ; the 

 same as the gulf stream is thrown off from the Ameri- 

 can coast by Cape Hatteras, and, in all probability, 

 never unite its waters and allnvion, if it retain any, 

 with that of the Sibennitic branch, or Damietta river. 

 This is confirmed by the remarks of Mr Rennell, who 

 says " Here it is proper to observe, that although the 

 general current of the sea is to the east, along the coast 

 of Egypt, yet that there is a counter current, from the 

 Rosetta river, through the bay of Abouker, at whose 

 point it falls into the general easterly current, which is 

 thrown off from the coast by the projecting form of 

 that point."* 



1 will next examine the Damietta river. Its course 

 is in a north easterly direction, particularly, near its 

 mouth. Now if the current of the Mediterranean flow- 

 ed perpendiculy to this branch, its current must flow 

 to the south east opposite the lake of Menzala, and so 

 on by the coast of Syria ; in which case, not a handful 

 of sand would have been deposited on that coast, by 

 reasons of its running parallel with it only, and not 



* Rennell's Herodotus, pa^p 489. 

 44 



