454 OBSERVATIONS ON ALEXANDRIA. 
I 
The just complaint made by Professor White, at the conclusion 
of his ^gyptiaca, of the want of evidence respecting the real situa- 
tion of the ruins which surround the pillar, which has been usually 
called Pompey's, and the reproach which he has cast on the Insti- 
tute of Egypt, for having so ill employed their leisure, and having 
added so little to our knowledge of that country ; determined me 
to avoid a like censure, by using my utmost exertions to elucidate 
the geography of this ancient capital of the Ptolemies. Mr. Salt 
immediately commenced a survey, the result of which is given to 
the public in the accompanying map, which not only shews the 
present situation of the city, but, I tr:^^^^^.^ ull enable us to ascertain 
the position of most of the great edifices mentionea h^^the ancient 
geographers. 
The re-formation of the Lake Mareotis, by the..E^iish, has 
thrown great light on the extent of the city on Vne southern side, 
as it was known from the account -cf ^trabo, that it was bounded 
by it, and had a port on it, which was even richer and more fre- 
quented than that toward the sea. The chain of hillocks, which 
is covered by the French lines, limits the extent of the ancient 
city towards the east. The sea still marks the northern boundary^ 
except where the accumulation of sand on the Heptastadium has 
formed an isthmus instead of a causeway ; but the division between 
the town and the Necropolis, towards the west, it is now hardly 
possible to discover, though I am inclined to place it near to the 
spot where the Calish enters the sea. Strabo states that the length 
of the city was thirty stadia, and the breadth about seven or eight, 
giving a circumference of eighty stadia, or eight miles, which very 
well agrees with the plan of the ruins, supposing the tower at the 
