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PREFACE.
River,  which  caused  it  to  give  name  to  the  united  stream  after  its
junction  with  the  Astapus,  or  Bahr  el  Azrek,  or  Blue  River;  and
hence  Pliny,*  in  speaking  of  Meroe,  does  not  say  that  it  was
formed  by  the  Astapus,  but  by  the  Astasobas.  In  fact,  the  Astapus
forms  the  boundary  of  the  island,  as  it  was  called,  on  the  S.  W.  the
Astasobas,  or  united  stream,  on  the  N.  W.
*  Plin.  Hist.  Nat.  1.  5,  c.  9.
WILLIaM  MARTIN  LEAKE,
Acting  Secretary  of  the  African  Association.