352 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
Sifte and Miet Ghrammer are on the fame route, about half 
way between Kahira and Manfura, and fituated on oppofite 
banks of the Nile. Both are towns of the fecond order, and 
abounding with people, chiefly Mohammedans, very few 
Copts refiding there. The river is here narrow but deep, not 
exceeding three hundred yards in breadth ; and it may not 
be improper to remark in general concerning that celebrated 
ftream, that its greateft breadth, when free from inundation, 
may be eftimated at feven hundred yards, or fomething more 
than one third of a mile. Where narroweft, the diftance 
between the banks may be one hundred yards. The depth 
from three to twenty-four feet. 
That channel of the Nile which extends from Kahira to 
Damiatt is in general free from windings, and is interfperfed 
with a few fmall iflands. 
There are feveral populous towns in the Delta, of which 
Mehalle-el-Kebir is the chief. In point of population it is 
faid to be equal to Damiatt. The next in confideration are 
probably Semmenud and Menuf. 
To form a general idea of the Delta, the reader may con- 
ceive a vaft plain, interfered in all directions, by minute 
channels, (the canal of Menuf being almoft the only important 
ftream,) by which and by pumps the interftices are watered, 
and brought to the utmoft fertility. As to real inundation on 
the rife of the Nile, that muft be regarded as confined to a fmall 
fpace bordering on the fea. 
