*fr> 



TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



The other portis the *Eunoftus of the ancients, and.. is to 

 the weftward of the Pharos, It was called alfo the Port of 

 Africa ; is much larger than the former, and lies immedi- 

 ately under part of the town of .Alexandria. It has much. 

 deeper water, though a multitude of ihips have every day, 

 for ages, been throwing a quantity of ballafl into it ; and 

 there is no 'doubt, but in time it will be filled up, and join- 

 ed to the continent by this means. And posterity may, pro- 

 bably, following the fyilem of Herodotus, (if it ihould be ftill; 

 fafhionable) call this as, they have done . the reft of, Egypt, 

 the Gift of the Nik. 



Christian vefTels are not mffered to enter this port ; the. 

 only reafon- is, leaf! the Moorlfh women ihould be feen taking ; 

 the air in the evening at open windows ; and this has been 

 thought to be of weight enough for Chrifiian powers to 

 fubmit to it, and to, over-balance the conilant lofs offhips, 

 property, and men. 



-j: Alexander, returning to Egypt from the Libyan fide, 

 was ftruck with the beauty : and fituation of thefe two ports, . 

 JDinochares, an architect who accompanied him, traced* 

 out the plan, and Ptolemy I. built the city, 



* - 



The healthy, though defolate and. bare country round it 

 part of the Defert of Libya, was another inducement to pre- 

 fer this fituation to the unwholefome black mud of Egypt; 

 but it had no water; this Ptolemy was obliged to bring far 



above 



* Strabo, lib. xvii.p. 922. 

 JPHoJib, v. cap. 10. p. 273. 



f Strabp; lib. xvii. p. 920. QjTujt, lib. iv. cap., 8. 



