94 TRAVELS IN UPPER 



That part of the coast of Egypt which is situ- 

 ated to the east of Alexandria, is easily distin- 

 guishable from that to the westward. It is not so 

 low, and is intersected by more inequalities ; nei- 

 ther is it quite so naked : some traces of cultiva- 

 tion are discernible, some date-trees and human 

 habitations. In a word, it is a sure sign that you 

 are in the direction of Alexandria, when you get 

 sight of Pompey's pillar, and, previous to that, of 

 two little rising grounds, which are behind the 

 present city, and within the precincts of the old. 

 But from whatever quarter you approach those 

 dangerous shores, it is impossible to employ too 

 much circumspection, because all these indications 

 are not visible at any great distance, and because 

 the currents get hold of ships, and carry them to- 

 wards Africa with a rapidity which it is easier to 

 foresee than to calculate. 



Two ports, equally spacious, present themselves 

 to vessels intending to cast anchor close to Alex- 

 andria. The one, which is to the westward of the 

 city, is called the old harbour : its entrance is 

 somewhat difficult, on account of two shallows, 

 which leave but a narrow channel between them ; 

 but its interior is a deep bason, where there is good 



•' which are to be seen the remains of an Arabic inscription, 



" All these edifices are fallen into ruins."— Granger, Relation of 



a Voyage to Egypt in 1 730, page 221. 



anchorage 



