THE DELTA. 
135 
been divided into different channels ; for, accord- 
ing to Strabo, it falJs into the sea at the extreme 
point of the Delta, which is about thirty G. miles 
distant from the Nile of Rosetta. Sais, the 8ah 
of Edrisi and of the modern Egyptians, and for- 
merly the metropolis of Lower Egypt, was situ- 
ated about eight miles from Naucratis. It was 
celebrated for a famous temple of Minerva, On 
the eastern side of this province, the more con- 
siderable towns are situated along the Nile of 
Damietta ; but the populous and flourishing cities 
of the Egyptian, Grecian, and Arabian periods, 
only exhibit the wrecks of their former greatness. 
Busiris retains its ancient name, but preserves no 
vestiges of the splendour it displayed, when the 
shrine of Isis attracted prodigious numbers of 
people to celebrate the festivals of the goddess. 
Sebennytus, the modern Semenud, from which a 
branch of the Nile formerly derived its name, is 
situated below Busiris ; but both these ancient 
cities are eclipsed by the modern Mehalla, the 
capital of Garbie. To the west of Sebennytus is 
a large mound, covered with ruins, which D'An- 
ville supposes to mark the site of the city Isis. 
Among the ruins, the remains of a magnificent 
temple of Isis are remarkable for the purity of 
taste which they display, and the elegance of 
their sculptures. Mansura is situated at the se- 
paration of the Mendesian branch of the Nile 
