EAST OF THE DELTA. 
141 
The extremity of the lake Menzala consists of a 
series of shallow and impervious marshes, similar 
to those jungles of reeds which are so frequent in 
eastern countries. The Arabian Farama was 
situated below Pelusium, at the mouth of the 
river, in N. lat. 30° 48'. It was destroyed in the 
wars of the crusades. The Coptic name of this 
city is Baram ; in which appellation we may per- 
haps recogni;^e the Paremphis of Stephanus By- 
zantinus. Catieh, the ancient Casium, situated 
under Mount Casius, at the distance of about 
twenty-nine G. miles from Pelusium, forms the 
extreme boundary of Egypt. The eastern divi* 
sion of the Sharkie is arid and sterile, having 
been gradually reduced to a desert by the ne- 
glect, and the consequent failure of the Pelusian 
branch of the Nile. At the most early period of 
history this eastern branch appears to have been 
the most considerable ; and, by its waters, ferti- 
lized the sandy districts which border on the Red 
Sea. Assuming an eastern direction at the head 
of the Delta, its stream, descending to the sea, 
supplied numerous canals ; but, through a long 
series of ages, it has been gradually becoming 
shallow. Except at the period of the inundation, 
it has now lost the appearance of a river ; and 
the green districts of Goshen, in ancient times so 
abundant in pasturage, are converted into parch- 
<ed and sterile wastes. The principal towns in the 
