10 ROSETTA. 
CHAP. A building of considerable, although of un-» 
V ..^ .1 known antiquity, still exists in Rosetta, which 
Edifi^eln sceins to afFord a proof that the pointed Gothic 
tiiTcothfl ^^^^ owes its origin to the appearance presented 
form. i^y contiguous palm-trccs. The roof is entirely 
of stone, and consists of curvatures supported 
by props, representing the trunks of palm-trees, 
placed in the sides and the corners of the 
structure. Their branches, crossing each other 
upwards, form intersections, corresponding in 
shape with the pointed arches of our cathedrals. 
We had not remained a fortnight in Rosetta, 
when our plan of residence was suddenly 
interrupted, by an invitation from Captain Russel 
of the Ceres frigate to accompany him to Cyprus ; 
his ship having been ordered to that island 
oyagcto foi' water. We accepted his kind offer; and 
returning to the Braakel on the twentieth of May, 
set sail in the Ceres on the twenty-ninth, steering 
first towards the mouth of the Nile ; Captain 
Russel having been ordered to send to Rosetta 
some chests of dollars, to purchase supplies for 
the fleet. We lay all that night off the mouth 
are no females of this species, but all mates, who propagate their kind by 
casting their seed into those round balls of dung, ■which they form on pur- 
pose ; providing thereby, not only a proper nidus for the reception of thf ir 
young, but nourishment likewise for tliem as soon as they are born." 
Plutarch, de Iside et Osir. ca]), 10 
Cyprus. 
