DESCRIPTIONS OF EGYPT. 
125 
early period of history the only port in Egypt 
open to commerce. Thonis is generally supposed 
to coincide in situation with Canopus, on the ruins 
of which is raised the village of Aboukir, at the 
distance of 14 miles from Alexandria. The site 
of Canopus, formerly as famous for the dissolute 
manners of its inhabitants as the Italian Sybaris, 
is marked by majestic ruins* It seems to have 
been founded later than the reign of Darius Hy- 
staspes ; for by Scylax, his contemporary, it is 
described as a desert island. It is said to have de- 
rived its name from Canopus, an ancient Egyptian 
king, who died there of a loathsome disease. * 
He is represented in a black shroud, with a cap 
closely fitted to his head. About three miles to 
the east of Aboukir, a lagoon of fresh water, which 
communicates with the Nile only at the time of 
the inundation, indicates the termination of the 
ancient Canopic branch of the river. Heracleum, 
as appears from its ruins, was situated about half a 
league to the east of the Canopic mouth. The 
Nile of Canopus, when it varied its original chan- 
nel, and approached nearer this city, was some- 
times termed the Heraclean branch. Verging 
more and more towards the east, it formed at last 
so deep a curve, that a canal was opened to the 
sea, for which the river soon deserted its more 
* Etymolog, Magnum, ap. *EXgv#<w. 
