DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11636#0158
l^o travels in upper
CHAP. X.
Ruins—Canal of Alexandria—Cisterns—Culture of
the country adjacent to the canal—Salt-wort—■
Birds — Sjwrrvws — Catacombs — Cameleons —
Jackals.
If on taking your departure from the pillar of
Alexandria, you proceed southward, you cross an
oblong gullet, spacious, and of considerable depth.
It contains the relics of ancient buildings, among
which are distinguishable, on a level with the
sand, thick and solid walls3 disposed in form of
the letter T. Toward the extremity of the lon-
gitudinal branch of this T, there are two frag-
ments of columns of granite, and at the very ex-
tremity, a subterraneous excavation, the entrance
into which is now completely blocked up. The
people of the country call this place GuirgS. Thence
you arrive at the canal or kalish of Alexandria.
In the times of Alexander and of the kings of
Egypt, Alexandria was not, as it now is, in the
midst of sands : it was not encompassed with that
zone of sterility, which renders its environs at
present so disagreeable. A lake, the Mareotis,
which was at no great dislance, and two wide ca-
nals, one of wkich descended from Upper Egypt,
and
CHAP. X.
Ruins—Canal of Alexandria—Cisterns—Culture of
the country adjacent to the canal—Salt-wort—■
Birds — Sjwrrvws — Catacombs — Cameleons —
Jackals.
If on taking your departure from the pillar of
Alexandria, you proceed southward, you cross an
oblong gullet, spacious, and of considerable depth.
It contains the relics of ancient buildings, among
which are distinguishable, on a level with the
sand, thick and solid walls3 disposed in form of
the letter T. Toward the extremity of the lon-
gitudinal branch of this T, there are two frag-
ments of columns of granite, and at the very ex-
tremity, a subterraneous excavation, the entrance
into which is now completely blocked up. The
people of the country call this place GuirgS. Thence
you arrive at the canal or kalish of Alexandria.
In the times of Alexander and of the kings of
Egypt, Alexandria was not, as it now is, in the
midst of sands : it was not encompassed with that
zone of sterility, which renders its environs at
present so disagreeable. A lake, the Mareotis,
which was at no great dislance, and two wide ca-
nals, one of wkich descended from Upper Egypt,
and