Damietta, city, Lower Egypt, on the E. branch of the Nile, 6 miles from the sea. It is on a narrow neck of land, from 2 to 6 miles broad, between the Nile and lake Menzaleh. The houses are built in a crescent along the bank of the river. The walls, formerly so strong, are now in ruins. It has no harbor, and vessels are obliged to lie in the road at the mouth of the river, where they are exposed to all winds. The commerce of Damietta is, notwithstanding, very considerable, especially with Syria, Cyprus, and other parts of the Turkish empire. It exports hides, tallow, rice, and occasionally corn; and imports tobacco, wood, soap, cotton, oil, and raw silk. The country round Damietta is perhaps the most fertile in Egypt. This city is threatened by a serious danger from the gradual encroachments of lake Menzaleh towards the river, by which the space between these two waters is gradually diminished. Another apprehension is, that this branch of the Nile, which is annually becomiug shallower, will cease in a few years to be navigable for boats of large burden. Pop. 30,000 or 40,000. Lon. 31° 49' 45" E. Lat. 31° 25' N.
Source: A new universal gazetteer, or Geographical dictionary : containing a description of the various countries, provinces, cities, towns, seas, lakes, rivers, mountains, capes, &c. in the known world : with an appendix, containing an account of the monies, weights and measures of various countries, with tables illustrating the population, commerce, and resources of the United States : accompanied with an atlas, By Jedidiah Morse; Richard C Morse; Sherman Converse, 1821 (Link).
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