32.

The whole country from Gaza is barren and sandy, and still more so is that district next to it, which contains the lake Sirbonis,628 lying above it in a direction almost parallel to the sea, and leaving a narrow pass between, as far as what is called the Ecregma.629 The length of the pass is about 200, and the greatest breadth 50 stadia. The Ecregma is filled up with earth. Then follows another continuous tract of the same kind to Casium,630 and thence to Pelusium.