EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 31 
of columns. This is what has been remarked as the Tapofiris 
parva of antiquity. Abu-kir is a village, confiding of few in- 
habitants. There is near it, however, a fmall port, and on 
the point of land which forms it, a fortrefs, but of little ftrength. 
A Tforbafhi refides there, with a few foldiers. He colledls a 
toll from thofe who pafs the ferry near it. It is a place of no 
trade, and vefTels that frequent it come there chiefly for the 
purpofe of avoiding bad weather. We were eight hours and 
a half in reaching Rafhid, exclufively of the time taken up in 
croffing two ferries. The latter part of the road, from the fea- 
fide to Rafhid, has been all marked with fhort columns of burned 
brick, at certain diftances from each other. 
The beauty and fertility of the country round Rafhid de- 
ferves all the praife that has been given it. The eye is not, in- 
deed, gratified with the romantic views, flowing lines, the mix- 
ture of plain and mountain, nor that univerfal verdure that is 
to be obferved on the banks of the Rhine or the Danube. But 
his tafte is poor who would reduce all kinds of pidturefque 
beauty to one criterion. To me, after being wearied with the 
fandy drynefs of the barren difl:ri£t to the weft, the vegetable 
foil of Rafhid, filled with every produdion neceflary for the 
fuflenance, or flattering to the luxury of man, the rice fields 
covering the fuperficies with verdure, the orange groves exhal- 
ing aromatic odours, the date trees formed into an umbrageous 
roof over the head ; fhall I fay the raofques and the tombs, 
which, though wholly incompatible with the rules of archi- 
tediure, yet grave and fimple in the flrudture, are adapted to 
fill the mind with pleafing ideas ; and above all, the unruffled 
weight 
