DiOCLESIAN'S PILLAR. 465 
that so many learned men, who have visited Egypt, should have 
failed m making out the inscription. Pococke alone attempted to 
give any part of it, and was right in the two first letters of the name 
of Dioclesian, and the three first in the name of the dedicator. From 
the position of the pillar with respect to the sun, the inscription is 
sufficiently distinct for four hours each day, and the name of the 
Emperor is more perfect than any other. 
The Circus, marked 6, 7, 8, is in length above seven hundred 
paces, the upper circular division is cut out of the solid rock, and 
has in the centre an elevation with a hole at one end. This was 
filled with sand, but I employed men to clear it out in hopes of 
finding some subterraneous chambers ; but after descending gra- 
dually to the depth of about twenty feet, in a passage cut out of the 
solid rock, sufficiently spacious for a person to pass freely along it, 
I had the mortification to find my farther progress opposed by the 
natural barrier of rock. We examined the end, the top, bottom, and 
sides, with the greatest care, and were at length convinced that we 
had reached the extremity of the passage, and could only wonder, 
for what purpose it had been intended. The hill marked 9, seems to 
be in part a natural elevation, and may have given rise to Rhacotis 
being called a promontory. It is of nearly the same height as the 
spot on which Dioclesian's pillar actually stands. 
Modern Alexandria is by no means an ill built town, and its 
situation is extremely pleasant between the two harbours. The 
trade is still considerable with the Levant, and hardly a day passed 
during our stay, without the arrival of a Greek vessel. The New 
Harbour is indeed nearly useless; and instead of the largest ships 
being able, as in the time of Strabo, to approach the steps, and 
yoL, III, 3 o 
