a considerable sea-port town of Upper Egypt. It is governed by an Arabian prince, and by a cache, dependant on the bey of Girze. The Mahometans have several mosques here, and the coptis a church served by two priests. "Esne (says Abulfeda), remarkable for its public baths and its commerce, is built on the westward of the Nile, between Affouan and Cous, but nearer to this latter. It acknowledges, adds the geographer of Nubia, the coptis for founders. Its well cultivated territory abounds in grain and palm trees. It is surrounded by gardens filled with fruit trees. One admires here several ancient monuments constructed by the coptis, and superb ruins." This description answers to Esne in our time, which is situated on the edge of a rich country, and shaded by groves of orange trees loaded with fruits and flowers. This town, formerly called Latopolis, revered Minerva and the fish Latus (Strabo). It contains within its boundary an antique temple; thick walls inclose it on three sides. Six large fluted columns, crowned by a capital ornamented with the palm leaf, form the facade of it; 18 others support the roof, which is composed of large squares of marble; the building is surrounded by a freeze, and innumerable hieroglyphics cover its exterior aspects.

A little to the south of the town are seen the ruins of a monastery founded by St Helena, and near it the burying place of the martyrs, adorned with tombs crowned by cupolas, supported by arcades. The inhabitants of Esne having revolted against the persecution of Diocletian, that emperor destroyed this town and put them to the sword. This place, consecrated by religion, is become a celebrated pilgrimage among the Coptis. They repair thither from the most distant provinces of the kingdom. In the chain of mountains which stretches to the eastward of the Nile, and nearly opposite Esne, are quarries of a soft stone, called Baram. It is made use of for kitchen utensils. It hardens in the fire, and forms excellent kettles and pans, which give no bad taste to the victuals.