JOSEPH'S CANAL.

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artery of the traffic, and especially of the irrigation of the entire province from Lake Birket to the Nile. A distinguished engineer has given a most rational explanation of this famous Lake Mæris, so variously described by the best authorities. The entire province

of Fayoum might have formed an immense lake during the epoch of the great inundations of the Nile; but the irregularity of the retreat of these annual inundations inspired the Egyptians with the idea of securing their results, under all circumstances, by dykes and canals. In fact, whether the overflow of the waters were insufficient, or dangerous by reason of its magnitude, the canals and trenches in the earth either doubled the value of the inundations, or moderated their excess. Fayoum, skilfully utilised, now as a reservoir, now as a drain-pipe, became the regulator of the stream to which Egypt owes all its fertility.

There never could have been any justification of the enormous excavations which would have been rendered necessary by the construction of a lake. The gigantic walls which are found in different parts of the province are only the ancient dykes destined to restrain the waters of this natural lake, which was never dug by the hands of man, though

some ancient travellers will have it so. Another school of opinion assigns the merit of this great office to Birket Keroun; and several authors boldly give it the name of Lake Moris. This lake is per

fectly natural, and, according to the precise topographical observations of M. Linant Bey, it never could have played the marvellous part which has been falsely attributed to it; its configuration and its much lower level, relatively to the Nile, forbid all confusion on this point.

Even the historic name of Moris is dubious. The Pharaoh to whom the great system of canals is generally attributed is Amenemha III., the sixth king of the twelfth dynasty, unless indeed he be somebody else, for opinions on the point are as numerous as palm-trees. According to Champollion a mere ordinary Thotmes is entitled to the honour of this wonderful work. Fayoum is derived from Pharoum or Phaioum, which simply means a marsh.

Let us return to the bank of the great Canal of Joseph. Huge wherries and barques lay alongside the brick quay, waiting for their cargoes of grain and straw, the produce of the last harvest. Numerous caravans meet at this transport dépôt, and form a line of communication between Medinet and Cairo. The