CL'ARIyE’s TRAVELS. 
CHAP. X. 
FROM ROSETTA TJX EGYPT, TO LARNECA 
IN CYPRUS. 
Return to the Fleet — Nelson’s Island—-Antiquities — Rosetta — 
Trilinguar Inscription —Scaraboeus Pilularius— Curious Edi¬ 
fice in Rosetta of the Gothic form—Voyage to Cyprus— 
Appearance of the Island — Salines—Hot Winds — Larneca —- 
Insalubrity of the Island—Produce of the Land—Wine of 
Cyprus—Wretched Condition of the Country—Phoenician 
Idols—Nature of the Cyprian Venus—Ancient Gems — Sig¬ 
net Rings—Origin of the Camachuia—Theban Stone- 
Paintings commemorated upon Gems—Notice of a Picture 
by Zeuxis from an ancient Greek Manuscript—Substances 
used for the Signets of Cyprus—their most ancient form ; 
Upon the first of May, we returned to the fleet for our bag¬ 
gage, and took this opportunity to examine the Isle of Bekier , 
(or Aboukir,) or, as it is now called, “ Nelson’s Island We 
procured here about half a bushel of the bulbs of a very superb 
species of lily, with which the whole island was covered. 
Heaps of human bodies, cast up after “ the action of the Nile,’ 5 
as it has been rather improperly termed, # and not having been 
exposed to the devouring jackals, still presented upon the shore 
a revolting spectacle. Captain Clarke, who was with us, em¬ 
ployed the crew of his cutter in burying their remains; and 
we were proud to aid their pious labour. Small as this island 
Is, it yet contains some very remarkable antiquities. We ob¬ 
served the paved floors of buildings, with part of their super¬ 
structure, and some arched chambers lined with stucco, stretch¬ 
ing out from the island toward Aboukir. Other remains might 
also be observed under water ; a convincing proof of the chan¬ 
ges to which the coast has been liable, from the encroachment 
of the sea. A very singular subterranean passage, now open at 
its northern extremity, leads to some apartments in the oppo¬ 
site direction, which have an aperture above them, even with 
the surface of the higher pm of the island : no conjecture can 
# Even the Rosetta branch of the Nile, is at such a considerable distance to the 
east of Aboukir Bay, which was the real scene of action, that to call it the action of 
the Nile is not less absurd than to name .the 1 battle oi Trafalgar the action of Taa- 
: £lers. 
