66 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



quantity of loofe flying hillocks that were there (dangerous 

 in windy weather to travellers) are very flrong pictures of 

 the Saccara, the neighbourhood of Metrahenny and Mohan- 

 nan, but they have not the fmalleft or moft diftant refem- 

 blance to any part in the neighbourhood of Geeza. 



It will be afked, Where are all thofe temples, the Serapi- 

 um, the Temple of Vulcan, the Circus, and Temple of Venus ? 

 Are they found near Metrahenny ? 



To this I anfwer, Are they found at Geeza ? No, but had 

 they been at Geeza, they would have Hill been vifible, as they 

 are at Thebes, Diofpolis, and Syene, becaufe they are fur- 

 rounded with black earth not moveable by the wind. Vaft 

 quantities of thefe ruins, however, are in every ftreet of 

 Cairo: every wall, every Bey's fla.ble, every ciftern for horfes 

 to drink at, preferve part of the magnificent remains that 

 have been brought from Memphis or Metrahenny. — The 

 reft are covered with the moving fands of the Saccara ; as 

 the fphinxes and buildings that had been defertcd were in 

 Strabo's time for want of grafs and roots, which always 

 fpread and keep the foil firm in populous inhabited places, 

 the fands of the deferts are let loofe upon them, and have 

 covered them probably for ever.. 



A man's heart fails him in looking to the fouth and fouth- 

 welt of Metrahenny. He is loft in. the immenfe expanfe of 

 defert, which he fees full of Pyramids before him. Struck, 

 with terror from the unufual fcene of vaftnefs opened all 

 at once upon leaving the palm-trees, he becomes difpiritecl 

 from the effects of fultry climates,. 



From 



