little or almost nothing amongst those who had more than they could
use; and, as they produced an immense profit to merchants, they laid a
foundation for those capitals that afterwards were employed in other
sorts of business.

{47} Rhinocolura was merely a sort of sea port for embarking the
merchandizes that had been brought across the desert from the Red
Sea, It was situated at the south-east extremity or corner of the
Mediterranean Sea, and till Alexandria was built was the nearest port
to the Red Sea.
-=-

[end of page #52]

turned his arms against those countries in which there was the most to
be got by conquest, and from whom there was the least danger of
defeat.

Before this took place, the pride and insolence of the inhabitants of
Tyre and Sidon had displayed itself on more than one occasion. After
having been on friendly terms with the Jews, under David and
Solomon, they became their enemies, and excited the King of Babylon
to take Jerusalem; by that means destroying a neighbouring and
dangerous rival. The wealth of these two cities had afterwards induced
the Babylonians to attack them also. Sidon was taken and destroyed;
and that part of the city of Tyre fell, which was upon the main land;
but the Tyre that was the place of real trade, escaped the rage of the
Assyrian monarchs.

Alexander seems to have determined on destroying Tyre, in order to
found Alexandria, which he placed indeed in a better situation for the
eastern trade. His romantic expedition to India had in view the getting
possession of the countries which had produced those gems and
aromatics that were so much sought after in the other parts of the
world.

Had Alexander lived, perhaps he would not have found it in his
interest to depress Syria; but the division of his conquests amongst his
generals gave to Egypt and Syria two different masters. They were
rivals, and then every advantage that nature gave to Alexandria was
improved to the highest pitch under the Ptolemys.

The river Nile, much more navigable than the Euphrates, was also
better adapted for this trade, because, in coming from India, it was
necessary to ascend the latter, while the other was descended. Besides
this, the flat country of the Delta was cut into canals, which greatly
facilitated this channel of commerce. {48}

This was the first great revolution in eastern commerce. It was brought
on first by the envy of Alexander and the pride of the in-

---
{48} It does n