158 
DESCRIPTIONS OF EGYPT, 
Cairun, is still denominated the canal of Joseph, 
Between this artificial derivation and the bed of the 
Nile, a long narrow lake, termed Bathen by the 
Arabs, is intercepted. Above Feium, the moun- 
tains which accompany the Nile from the cataracts, 
approach nearer its banks, and the dimensions of 
the fertile valley of the river are contracted, parti- 
cularly on the eastern side, which is naked, rocky, 
and barren. Towns and villages become less nu- 
merous, while the ruins of ancient cities abound 
more and more. Amid the paltry cottages of the 
Copts and Arabs, the traveller discerns the vesti- 
ges of magnificent edifices which seem to have been 
the habitations of Genii. In sailing southwards 
occur the considerable towns of Benisouef, Mon~ 
falout, Assiut, and Girge, the capital of Upper 
Egypt. All these places have ruins in their vici- 
nity ; but none of peculiar splendour occur, till we 
arrive at Dendera. 
Dendera, the ancient Tentyra, lies on the 
western bank of the river, near the extremity of 
a fertile plain, bounded by an extensive forest of 
palms and dates, which furnishes the greater part 
of Egypt with charcoal. * The ruins of ancient 
Tentyra, which lie a little to the west of the mo- 
dern town, are of considerable extent. The re- 
mains of three temples, the largest of which is in 
* Sonnini's Travels, p. 589? 4to. 
