Page 369 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

342
COAST OF NUBIA. [CH.

We made the latitude 23° 55' north, differing
but five miles from that given by Ptolemy.
To those acquainted with the loose man-
ner in which the latitudes were observed by
the ancients, this close approximation may

afford matter of surprise; but Berenice, like
Syene, is just under the tropic, and their
anxiety to trace the extent of the Sun’s
journey to the southward may have induced
them to make here, as there, very accurate
observations.
Strabo describes the position of Berenice
with much correctness: he says it is situated
at the extremity of a bay, which, on account
of its numerous rocks and shoals, was called
Secunundus. It is singular that, in “ Foul
Bay,” this portion of the Red Sea should for
so many ages have retained its name.

It may be considered fortunate that we
should have succeeded in identifying this port,
few of the other stations on this coast, known
to the ancients, are now ascertained.
Referring to the motives assigned by

performed by night, on account of the heat, and the whole took up
twelve days; which shows, that in antiquity, a caravan made but
about twenty-one and a half miles a day. The fleets left Berenice
about midsummer, if possible, before the rising of the dog-star, or
immediately after.