ABOUKIR, a small town of Egypt, situate in the desert between Alexandria and Rosetta. It is the an-
cient Canopus, and is situated, according to Mr Savary, six leagues from Pharos. Pliny says, from the testimonies of antiquity, that it was formerly an island: and its local appearance makes this credible; for the grounds around it are so low, that the sea still covered a part of them in the days of Strabo. The town is built upon a rock, which forms a handsome road for shipping, and was out of the reach of inundations. See CANOPUS.