AND LOWER EGYPT. $$ 



those which cover the seas of the Levant, of a to- 

 tal loss, in a region abandoned to the pillage of 

 Africans. 



To make the land of Alexandria is likewise at- 

 tended with difficulty and danger : this part of 

 Egypt is so low, that much circumspection is re- 

 quisite toward a safe approach to it. If your course 

 is from the Libyan side, that is, from the west, the 

 first indication of the land of Egypt is Abousir f 

 called by Europeans, the Towers of the Arabs. 

 These are two eminences, on each of which a 

 tower is constructed. They are distinguishable at 

 sea four leagues off. One of these towers is round, 

 the other square. At least this is the appearance 

 which they presented to my eye, on viewing them 

 from the offing. It would appear, nevertheless, 

 that their forms are different from what I supposed 

 them at a distance ; for Granger, who seems to 

 have made a survey of the edifices, describes them 

 differently * That 



* u On the western extremity of this lake (Mareotis), is to 

 <l be seen the tower of the Arabs, called, by the people of the 

 >l country, the castle of Abousir. It is indeed a square tower, 

 " fourscore feet high, the faces of which arc each two' hun- 

 " dred and fifty feet broad ; built of very beautiful hewn stone ; 

 " the walls are fourteen feet thick. At the distance of a 

 " quarter of a league from this castle, there is a tower, square 

 M below, and the upper part round ; and, six leagues from 

 " thence, still to the westward, th«re is aaother, on the walls ot 



"which 



