Histories

Now, if the Nahr an- Nil [31.1,30.166] (river), AfricaNile inclined to direct its current into this Arabian gulf, why should the latter not be silted up by it inside of twenty thousand years? In fact, I expect that it would be silted up inside of ten thousand years. Is it to be doubted, then, that in the ages before my birth a gulf even much greater than this should have been silted up by a river so great and so busy?

As for Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt, then, I credit those who say it, and myself very much believe it to be the case; for I have seen that Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt projects into the sea beyond the neighboring land, and shells are exposed to view on the mountains, and things are coated with salt, so that even the pyramids show it, and the only sandy mountain in Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt is that which is above Mit Rahina [31.25,29.85] (inhabited place), Giza, Upper Egypt, Egypt, AfricaMemphis;

besides, Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt is like neither the neighboring land of Arabian Peninsula [45,25] (region (general)), AsiaArabia nor Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya, not even like Syria [38,35] (nation), Asia Syria (for Syrians inhabit the seaboard of Arabian Peninsula [45,25] (region (general)), AsiaArabia); it is a land of black and crumbling earth, as if it were alluvial deposit carried down the river from Aethiopia;