a small town of Egypt, situated in the desert between Alexandria and Rosetta. It is the ancient Canopus, and is situated, according to Mr Savary, five 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. In the bay of Aboukir, a signal victory was obtained in 1798 by the English fleet over the French fleet. The town was taken from the Turks, after a vigorous defence, by the French in 1799, and retaken by the English in 1801.

ABOUT, the situation of a ship immediately after she has tacked, or changed her course by going about and standing on the other tack.—About ship! the order to the ship's crew for tacking.