lower class of people in the east is commonly made. Of wheat
it usually produces from seven to fifteen fold, though in extraordinary
years it has yielded twenty-four, or even upward. Mr.
Forskaol informs us, that the fields near the canal are sown in
October, and reaped in February; but those nearer the town, which
cannot be watered by the Nile, are not sown till november. The
wheat in these is ripe in february, and the barley in march.
The canal of Alexandria having , long been obstructed, boats
cannot reach the Nile from this city but by sailing along the. coast
to Rosetta, situate at the mouth of the Bolbitine branch of that
river, which now forms the western limit of the Delta. In this
voyage, about five leagues from Alexandria, they pass
ABOUKEER, the ancient CANOPUS.
The city of Canopus is said to have been built on an island,
standing at the mouth of a branch of the Nile, which took it’s
name from the city, and bounded the Delta on this side: but the
island is now a part of the main land, and the Canopic branch of
the Nile is choked up. A temple of Serapis stood here, that was
particularly famed; and great numbers of strangers were continually
resorting to the city, to pay their devotions to the deity:
or rather, perhaps, to enjoy the pleasures of the place. This concourse
of visitors, who had nothing to do but to attend the rites
of an. idol, and wealth enough to undertake a voyage for the
purpose, would naturally seek pleasure, and amusement for their
vacant hours. A city abounding with riches, in a country fertile