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Of the portion of this line of communication, comprising the basin of the Bitter Lake, the length, width, depth and direction have already been mentioned; so that were the obstacles removed which cut off the communication with the water of the Gulph, and the ancient canal restored, this great trough or hollow would be filled with salt water to the extent and depth described, and afford a navigable channel twenty-seven miles long without any other as­sistance from art.

Along the margin or edges of the basin of the Bitter Lake are observed marks of ancient sea beaches, contain­ing shells, pebbles, and marine debris, similar in level and all other particulars to the high-water-mark of the Red Sea at the present day, and shewing clearly that a com­munication existed between them in antient times, and was long maintained; and it is alleged, and apparently with great reason, that, were the water of the Red Sea ad­mitted into the basin of the Bitter Lake, and to fill it, the water would flow from thence into Lake Menzaleh through the hollows just mentioned, and constitute Africa a distinct continent. But this would farther serve to prove that such had actually been the case in very remote times; because, when the sea beaches were formed on the margin of the Bitter Lake, there was nothing to prevent the water, when at that height, flowing through the northern depressions into Lake Menzaleh. Of such a condition of land and water we have no historical notice; but the geo­logical and physical phenomena bear strong evidence to the fact; and I shall presently endeavour to show how, if such a natural water communication existed, it has, chiefly from natural causes, been closed up*. There does not

* If such a condition existed within historical periods, the site of such a channel of flowing salt water might answer to the river of