Page:The Natural History of Pliny.djvu/449

 Chap. 10.] ACCOUNT OP COUNTRIES, ETC. 415 the frontiers of jEtliiopia ; that is the name of a peninsula a mile in circumference, upon which Castra^ is situate, on the side of Arabia. Opposite to it are the four islands of PhiliB^, at a distance of 600 miles from the place where the Nile divides into two channels ; at which spot, as we have already stated, the Delta, as it is called, begins. This, at least, is the distance, according to Artemidorus, who also informs us that there were in it 250 towns ; Juba says, however, that the distance between these places is 400 f miles. Aristocreon says that the distance from Elephantis to the sea is 750 miles ; Elephantis^ being an inhabited island four miles below the last Cataract, sixteen"* beyond Syene, 585 from Alexandria, and the extreme limit of the na gation of Egypt. To such an extent as this have the above-named authors* been mistaken! This island is the place of rendezvous for the vessels of the -Ethiopians : they are made to fold up^, and the people carry them on their shoulders w^henever they come to the Cataracts. just below the First Cataract, and was looked upon as the southern frontier city of Egypt against j^thiopia. It was an important point in the geography and astronomy of the ancients ; for, lying just under the tropic of Cancer, it was chosen as the place through which they drew their chief parallel of latitude. The sim was vertical to Syene at tho time of the summer solstice, and a well was 8ho^vn there where the face of the sun was seen at noon at that time. Its present name is Assouan or Ossouan. ^ If tliis word means the " Camp," it does not appear to be known what camp is meant. Most editions have "Cerastse," in which case it would mean that at Syene the Cerastes or horned serpent is foimd. 2 One of these (if indeed PhUfC did consist of more than a single island, which seems doubtful) is now known as Djeziret-cl-Birbc, tho "Island of the Temple." 3 Tliis island was seated just below the Lesser Cataract, opposite Syene, and near the western bank of the Nile. At this point the river becomes navigable downward to its mouths, and the traveller from Meroe or Ethiopia enters Egyjit Proper. The original name of this island was " Ebo," Eb being in the language of hieroglyphics the symbol of tbe ele- phant and ivory. It was remarkable for its fertility and verdure, and the Arabs of the present day designate the island as Djesirct-el-Sag, or " the Blooming." thinks that Pliny intended to write ' Philaj,' but by mistake inserted Syene. 6 Artemidorus, Juba, and Aristocreon. ^ They were probably made of papyrus, or else of liides, like the British coracles.
 * This is a mistake of Pliny's, for it was opposite to Syene. Brotier