354 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
fuing the ftraiter courfe offered to it by the canal of Menuf, 
deferted its bed, and left accefs to the fea-water. Hence the 
plants of papyrus, as well as thie other vegetables,! were de- 
prived of the prolific influence of the Nile, and expired in the 
noxious effluvia of a marine marfh. I was told by an European 
there, who had refided between thirty and forty years, that 
the papyrus ufed to attain the height of eight, nine, or more 
feet. The ftem was about ian inch or more in diameter; and 
of fuch fubftance as to ferve my informer and his fon for walk- 
ing-fticks. 
The gardens of Damiatt contain fome mulberry trees and 
plantains. The Tethymalus, wart-weed, is found there in great 
quantity. Scammony is not uncommon. The Eaft fide of the 
river, from Damiatt to the North extremity of the coaft, confifts 
of fand hills, and moft part of the way is lined with reeds. ' 
Among the crops of Lower Egypt in particular muft not be 
forgotten the Lucerne, B'lrsim^ which grows with furprifing 
luxuriance. 
Damiatt is vivified by a confiderable trade, being the depot 
between Egypt and Syria, and the mart of all the produdlions 
of the Delta ; exporting particularly rice and flax to Syria, and 
importing cotton in return, which is manufadured there and in 
other parts of Egypt. Its European commerce is very incon- 
fiderable : fome Venetian and Ragufan veflfels bring fmall car- 
goes of cochineal, and other commodities. Formerly there 
were 
