that the whole of Egypt,
beginning from the Cataract and the city of Elephantine, is divided into
two parts and that it thus partakes of both the names, since one side
will thus belong to Libya and the other to Asia; for the Nile from the
Cataract onwards flows to the sea cutting Egypt through in the midst;
and as far as the city of Kercasoros the Nile flows in one single
stream, but from this city onwards it is parted into three ways; and
one, which is called the Pelusian mouth, turns towards the East; the
second of the ways goes towards the West, and this is called the Canobic
mouth; but that one of the ways which is straight runs thus,--when the
river in its course downwards comes to the point of the Delta, then it
cuts the Delta through the midst and so issues out to the sea. In this
we have a portion of the water of the river which is not the smallest
nor the least famous, and it is called the Sebennytic mouth. There are
also two other mouths which part off from the Sebennytic and go to
the sea, and these are called, one the Saitic, the other the Mendesian
mouth. The Bolbitinitic, and Bucolic mouths, on the other hand, are
not natural but made by digging. Moreover also the answer given by the
Oracle of Ammon bears witness in support of my opinion that Egypt is of
the extent which I declare it to be in my account; and of this answer
I heard after I had formed my own opinion about Egypt. For those of the
city of Marea and of Apis, dwelling in the parts of Egypt which border
on Libya, being of opinion themselves that they were Libyans and not
Egyptians, and also being burdened by the rules of religious service,
because they desired not to be debarred from the use of cows' flesh,
sent to Ammon saying that they had nought in common with the Egyptians,
for they dwelt outside the Delta and agreed with them in nothing;
and they said they desired that it might be lawful for them to eat
everything without distinction. The god however did not permit them to
do so, but said that that land was Egypt where the Nile came over and
watered, and that those were Egyptians who dwelling below the city of
Elephantine drank of that river. Thus was it answered to them by the
Oracle about this: and the Nile, when it is in flood, goes over not only
the Delta but also of the land which is called Libyan and of that which
is called Arabian sometimes as much as two days' journey on each side,
and at times even more than this or at times less.