PEL 
miffion, proportioned to the degree of inclination, which 
is about thirty-five or forty degrees at the upper part, 
where we can eafily eftimate it by the line, which extends 
from the facro-vertehral articulation to the upper edge of 
the fympbyfis pubis. 
The capacity of the pelvis differs remarkably in man 
and woman. It is manifeftly larger in the latter in every 
direction : thus the two iliac criftae, the two anterior 
and the two pofterior fpines, the cotyloid cavities, the tu- 
berofities of the ifchia, &c. &c. are further apart. Thefe 
are all tranfverfe meafurements ; and thofe from before 
backwards are greater, as we may lee in meafuring from 
the facrum to tlie pubes, from the anterior to the pofte¬ 
rior fpine, from the facro-iliac articulation to the fora¬ 
men ovale, See. The oblique meafurements, from one 
fide to the other, are alfo larger in the female. The fu- 
perior aperture often exhibits deviations from the accuf- 
tomed arrangement, in the diminution of its diameters 
fubfequently to birth ; and thefe are generally caufed by 
rachitis, which exerts itseft'e&s more on the antero-pofte- 
rior than on the tranfverfe or oblique diameters, becaufe 
the weight of the upper parts, tranfmitted by the fpine, 
is the principal exciting circumftance. 
The breadth of the pelvis in the female produces fome 
difficulties in progreffion ; but the pafiage of the child in 
parturition is facilitated. It performs an important part 
in this fun&ion, befides having the fame offices as in 
man, viz. thofe of forming the bafis of fupport to the 
trunk, and of containing and protecting the vifeera. 
The comparative height of the pelvis in the male and 
female is exactly the inverfe of the breadth. The mea- 
furement from the crifta of the ilium to the tuberofity of 
the ifehium, the depth of the fymphyfis pubis, and the 
length of the canal formed by the fmaller pelvis, are con- 
fiderably greater in men than in women. There are fome 
individual varieties in the dimenfions of the pelvis, but 
they depend very little on ftature. Parturition is as eafy 
in fmall as in large women, although the formerfrequently 
produce very large children. See the article Parturi¬ 
tion, vol. xviii. p.691. 
The pelvis is formed of few but very broad bones, 
united in fuch a manner as not to admit of motion on 
each other : it can be moved therefore only all together, 
and not partially. Four bones enter into its compofition : 
two pofterior, fymmetrical, and placed on the middle 
line, are the facrum and coccyx ; two anterior and irre¬ 
gular, tranfmit to the thigh-bones the weight of the 
trunk, which they have received from the facrum ; they 
are the offa innominata. The facrum and coccyx, placed 
at the back of the pelvis, form a continuation of the 
vertebrae, and are conftruCted on a mode fimilar to that 
of the vertebrae. In moft quadrupeds this prolongation 
of the fpine is much more extenfive, and forms the tail, 
which goes confiderably beyond the anus ; while in man, 
that opening is fituated a little farther than the end of 
the coccyx. 
The organs' contained in the cavity of the pelvis are 
excellently protected from all external fliocks. The kind 
of arch formed by the offa pubis in front, the thick muf- 
cles, the hip-joints, and the trochanter, at the fides, and 
the mufcular maffes of the fpine behind, conftitute an ef¬ 
fectual provifion for the refiftance of injury. The pro¬ 
jection of the offa innominata beyond the facrum behind, 
protects the latter bone in cafes of blows or falls on his 
part of the pelvis. See the article Anatomy, vol. i. p. 
548, 617. and Parturition, vol. xviii. p. 691. 
PE'LUS, in ancient geography, the name of an ifland, 
fituated in the vicinity of that of Chios.—Alfo, a moun¬ 
tain of Italy, in Etruria.—Alfo, a torrent of Sicily. 
PE'LUS, a town of Perfia, in the province of Mecran : 
fifty-four miles north-north-eaft ofKieh. 
PELU'SIUM, in ancient geography, a town of Egypt, 
at the eaftern extremity of the lake Menzale, near one of 
the mouths of the Nile, and, according to Strabo, about 
two miles from the fea. Its name, which in Greek fig- 
Vol. XIX, No. 1322. 
P E M 523 
nifies mud, proves its fituation to be in the midft oflakes 
and marfhes ; as does alfo the Hebrew term Sin, by which 
the prophet Ezekiel denominates it; and alfo the Tineh 
of the Arabians. The period of its foundation, as well 
as that of the other ancient cities of Egypt, is loft in the 
obfeurity of time. It flourilhed long before Herodotus. 
As it commanded the entrance of the country on the fide 
of Alia, the Pharaohs rendered it a confiderable fortrefs: 
one of them raifed a rampart thirty leagues in length, 
from the walls of this town to Heliopolis. This ram¬ 
part, which covered Pelufium, did not, however, flop 
Cambyfes, who attacked it with a formidable army. 
Cambyfes, after a bloody battle, in which he flaughtered 
his enemies, entered Pelufium in triumph. Herodotus, 
who vifited Pelufium fome years after the conqueft of 
Cambyfes, fays that he furveyed the plain where the two 
armies had fought, and found it covered with human 
bones collected in heaps ; thofe of the Perfians on one 
fide, and thofe of the Egyptians on the other. Pelufium, 
after palling under the dominion of Perfia, was taken by 
Alexander. The brave Antony, general of cavalry un- 
derGabinius, took it from his fucceffors ; and Rome re- 
ftored it to Ptolemy Auletes. Pompey, after the fatal 
battle of Pharfalia, took refuge at Pelufium ; but he had 
fcarcely landed on the Ihore, when he was murdered. 
The affaffins cut off his head, fent it to Csefar, and left 
his body naked on the Ihore. Pelufium was often ta¬ 
ken and pillaged, during the wars of the Romans, the 
Greeks, and the Arabs ; but, in fpite of her difafters, file 
preferved, to the time of the crufades, her riches and her 
commerce. The Chriftian princes, having taken it by 
ftorm, lacked it. It never again rofe from its ruins, and 
the inhabitants went to Damietta. 
Farama , founded by the Arabs, a little to theeaftward 
of Pelufium, took place of it. But this town did not 
long lubfift, for it was deftroyed in the 13th century. It 
had a maufoleum, which fome have erroneoufly fuppofed 
to be the tomb of Galen, but which in reality was that of 
Pompey, placed by Pliny at fome diftance from Mount 
Ceiius, in the vicinity of which are the ruins of Farama. 
Savary's Travels in Egypt. 
PELU'SO, a fmall itland in the Mediterranean, near 
the coaft of Natolia. Lat. 36.45. N. Ion. 28. 36. E. 
PE'LYN, a village in Cornwall. See Lestwitkiel, 
PEMAQUID', a bay on the coaft of Maine, contain¬ 
ing feveral fmall iflands. Lat. 43. 45. N. Ion. 69. 30. W. 
PEMAQUID' POl'NT, a cape on the coaft of Maine. 
Lat. 43. 37. N. Ion. 69.30. W. 
PE'MAR, a town of Sweden, in the province of Fin¬ 
land : twelve miles eaft of Abo. 
PEMA'RO, a town of Etruria: fifteen miles eaft- 
fouth-eaft of Leghorn. 
PEM'BA, a province of Congo, bounded on the north 
by the province of Sundi, on the eaft by Batta, on the 
fouth by Bamba, and on the weft by Songo. Some divide 
the province into two; one called the province of St. 
Salvador, and the other the marquifate of Bamba, from 
the chief towns. The land is generally fertile, particu¬ 
larly towards the eaft. See Bamba, vol. ii. 
PEM'BA, or Penda, an ifland in the Indian Sea, near 
the coaft of Africa; about 100 miles in circumference, 
governed by a king, tributary to the Portuguefe. Lat. 
5. 55. S. Ion. 42. E. 
PEM'BA BA'Y, a bay of the Indian Sea, on the coaft 
of Africa. Lat. 13. S. 
PEM'BERTON, a village in Lancafliire. The number 
of inhabitants 2309, of whom 1366 are employed in trade 
and manufactures : two miles fouth-fouth-w'eft of Wigan. 
PEM'BREY, a village and diftriCt in South Wales. 
The earl of Alhburnham has reclaimed 500 acres of fine 
rich marfli-land from the conftant overflow of the tide at 
this place. The length of the bank is two miles and a 
half; in many parts it is 12 feet high, and the bafe 84 feet 
wide. Sept. 1818. 
PEM'JBRIDGE, a town in the county of Hereford, on 
6 S the 
