1*0 TRAVELS IN UPPER 



CHAP. X. 



Ruins — Canal of Alexandria — Cisterns — Culture of 

 the country adjacent to the canal — Salt-wort— - 

 Birds — Sparrows — Catacombs — Cameleons — - 

 Jackals. 



If on taking your departure from the pillar of 

 Alexandria, you proceed southward, you cross an 

 oblong gullet, spacious, and of considerable depth. 

 It contains the relics of ancient buildings, among 

 which are distinguishable, on a level with the 

 sand, thick and solid walls, disposed in form of 

 the letter T. Toward the extremity of the lon- 

 gitudinal branch of this T, there are two frag- 

 ments of columns of granite, and at the very ex- 

 tremity, a subterraneous excavation, the entrance 

 into which is now completely blocked up. The 

 people of the country call this place Guirge. Thence 

 you arrive at the canal or kalish of Alexandria. 



In the times of Alexander and of the kings of 

 Egypt, Alexandria was not, as it now is, in the 

 midst of sands : it was not encompassed with that 

 zone of sterility, which renders its environs at 

 present so disagreeable. A lake, the Mareotis, 

 which was at no great distance, and two wide ca- 

 nals, one of which descended from Upper -Egypt, 



and 



