Cliap. 10.] ACCOUNT Or COrNTEIES, ETC. 
415 
the frontiers of Ethiopia ; that is the name of a peninsula a 
mile in circumference, upon which Castra^ is situate, on the 
side of Arabia. Opposite to it are the four islands of 
PhilsB^, at a distance of 600 miles from the place where 
the Mle divides into two channels ; at which spot, . as 
we have already stated, the Delta, as it is called, begins. 
This, at least, is the distance, according to Artemidorus, 
who also informs us that there were in it 250 towns ; Juba 
says, however, that the distance between these places is 400 
miles. Aristocreon says that the distance from Elephantis 
to the sea is 750 miles; Elephantis^ being an inhabited 
island four miles below the last Cataract, sixteen^ beyond 
Syene, 585 from Alexandria, and the extreme limit of the 
navigation of Egypt. To such an extent as this have the 
above-named authors^ been mistaken! This island is the 
place of rendezvous for the vessels of the Ethiopians : they 
are made to fold up*^, and the people carry them on their 
shoulders whenever they come to the Cataracts. 
just below the First Cataract, and was looked upon as the southern 
frontier city of Egypt against Ethiopia. It was an important point in 
the geography and astronomy of the ancients ; for, lying just under the 
tropic of Cancer, it was chosen as the place through which they drew 
their chief parallel of latitude. The sun was vertical to Syene at the 
time of the summer solstice, and a well was shown there where the face 
of the sun was seen at noon at that time. Its present name is Assouan 
or Ossouan. 
^ If this word means the " Camp," it does not appear to be known 
what camp is meant. Most editions have " Cerastse,' ' in which case it 
would mean that at Syene the Cerastes or horned serpent is found. 
2 One of these (if indeed Philse did consist of more than a single 
island, which seems doubtful) is now known as Djeziret-el-Birbe, the 
" Island of the Temple." 
3 This island was seated just below the Lesser Cataract, opposite Syene, 
and near the western bank of the Nile. At this point the river becomes 
navigable downward to its mouths, and the traveller from Meroe or 
Ethiopia enters Egypt Proper. The original name of this island was 
" Ebo," Eb being in the language of hieroglyphics the symbol of the ele- 
phant and ivory. It was remarkable for its fertility and verdure, and 
the Arabs of the present day designate the island as Djesiret-el-Sag, or 
" the Blooming." 
* This is a mistake of Pliny's, for it was opposite to Syene. Brotier 
thinks that Pliny intended to write ' Philse,' but by mistake inserted Syene. 
^ Artemidorus, Juba, and Aristocreon. 
6 They were probably made of papyrus, or else of liides, like the British 
coracles. 
