The Delta was gradually improved and converted into fruitful fields. Being rich in soil, and productive of valuable crops, it soon became populous, and drew toward it the seat of government. Thus, Thebes, splendid and famous, the glory of Egypt and the theme of the poet, was gradually forsaken and fell into decay. Noph, Moph, or Memphis, next succeeded in honour, and became the capital of Egypt. In this lower part of the country, a new dynasty had probably been established, which, increasing in power, had subdued and overthrown the king of Thebes." the glory of No Ammon passed away, and as its ancient splendour has long been buried in its ruins, so Memphis, in its turn, though long a city of renown, has for ages been so completely destroyed, that the place where it once stood is not accurately known. If we ask how m If Ptolemy's Geog. title Egypt; Isaiah, ch. xix, v. 14; and Jer. ch. xli, v. 1. cities so vast and superb could be completely defaced, we may perhaps find a satisfactory answer, in being well assured that the superb and costly structures were chiefly confined to the houses of the great, the palaces of kings, the tombs of monarchs, and the temples of the gods. The houses of a people rude and simple were easily built and easily destroyed; and if we judge from ancient historical hints as well as from a practice which still remains, they consisted chiefly of mud, and would easily be swept away." If the word Memphis be of Hebrew origin, it signifies, by the mouth; and may be descriptive of the place where the city stood. Mr. Browne describes its scite as being some miles to the south of Cairo, on the west side of the Nile; where, toward the mountains, there are ruins of buildings, and vesti & 30. Harmer's Observations, vol. iii, Specimens, p. 29 ges of canals. It does not appear to have been situated nearly opposite to Grand Cairo, as some have supposed; but according to Pliny, between the pyramids of Giza and those of Saccara. Here Mr. Browne judiciously supposes it to have stood, and this opinion may embrace the suggestions and sentiments of Mr Bruce; for Memphis not having yielded to Thebes, in glory or extent, may have stretched its suburbs, both towards Giza and Succara, comprehended within its precincts Metrahenny and Mohannon; and having for its burying places, without the city, those ancient depositaries of the dead, at the pyramids of Giza and Saccara. There astonishing pits and excavations are still found; and there numerous mummies have been discovered. That part of Memphis, which stood upon the low banks of the Nile, may have been hastened to destruction by the overflowing of the a Shaw's Travels, p. 422, fol. Oxford, 1738. river, when the artificial banks, which defended the city, had fallen into decay. And if a part of the city was on the eastern banks of the river, it may have been swept away by the streams of the Nile, gradually changing their course, and running nearer the mountains of Mocattem. a Ancient geographers have described Memphis, as situated fifteen miles above the Delta; but the upper angle of this district of Egypt is evidently a moveable point, and from its commencement must gradually have been retiring further from its original situation, and drawing nearer the base of the triangle, or southern shore of the Mediterranean sea. The upper point of the Delta divides the streams of the Nile; and being constantly beat upon by the force of the current, is necessarily worn down. • Browne's Travels, ch. 13; Pliny, lib. 1, c. 9, et lib. 36, c. 12; Bruce, vol. i, ch. 3; Denon, Lond. Aikin's edit. vol. 1, p. 312, &c.; and Rennel's Geog. of Herodotus, p. 495. The divergent streams, operating powerfully upon the sides of the triangle, continually alter the line of their direction, and thus gradually approaching one an, other, the branches of the Nile will at length meet, and only constitute one stream. In conformity to this idea, the Canopic and Pelusian streams of the Nile, as well as other branches of that river, are mostly filled up by accumulated sand, and receive no water but in time of the inundation." Therefore, instead of seven mouths, which were celebrated of old, there are now only two branches of the Nile, which sweep their courses by Rosetta on the west, and Damietta on the east." a Pliny Nat. Hist. lib. 36, c. 16, 17, &c. and Rennel's Geog. of Herodotus, p. 511. b A. D. 1796, Murad Bey opened the channel of that branch of the river, which passed by Damietta, and turned the water into its ancient course; but the tendency to alter its direction still remains, and ultimately the branches will be united in one general stream.-Browne's Travels, ch |