LAKE MAREOTIS. 
121 
60 miles in circuit, and extended towards the 
south-east more than 30 miles. Its banks were 
once covered with populous towns and villages ; 
it communicated by different canals with the 
Canopic branch of the Nile, and in its vicinity 
was produced the celebrated Mareotic wine ; but 
these canals have been long interrupted, the lake 
itself has disappeared, and instead of its ancient 
vines, its place is only marked by some scattered 
palms, and a degree of verdure slightly superior 
to that of the desert. To the eastward of Mari- 
out lies the bay of Alexandria, about three leagues 
in breadth, and separated into two ports by the 
island Pharos, which is now connected with the 
continent. The country between the Plinthine 
bay and Alexandria has relapsed into its primitive 
steriHty, and in various places exhibits the ruins 
of ancient cities, partially covered with sand, 
among which Taposiris, the Bosiri of Marmol, 
was, in the time of that author, distinguished by 
the superior grandeur of its remains. The geo- 
graphical position of the Pharos, as determined 
by Quenot, is N. L. 31^ 13' 5'\ From the en- 
croachments of the sea on this island, the site of 
the modern tower does not indicate the situation 
of the ancient structure, which was supported on 
pillars of marble, the successive stories of which 
rose to an elevation of 400 feet. The ruins of 
this magnificent pile, the origin of which is en- 
