the river of Egypt, whose fountain is in the Upper Ethiopia. After
having watered several kingdoms, the Nile continues its course far into
the kingdom of Goiam. Then it winds about again, from the east to the
north. Having crossed several kingdoms and provinces, it falls into
Egypt at the cataracts, which are waterfalls over steep rocks of the
length of two hundred feet. At the bottom of these rocks the Nile
returns to its usual pace, and thus flows through the valley of Egypt.
Its channel, according to Villamont, is about a league broad. At eight
miles below Grand Cairo, it is divided into two arms, which make a
triangle, whose base is at the Mediterranean Sea, and which the Greeks
call the Delta, because of its figure Δ. These two arms are divided into
others, which discharge themselves into the Mediterranean, the distance
of which from the top of the Delta is about twenty leagues. These
branches of the Nile the ancients commonly reckoned to be seven. Ptolemy
makes them nine, some only four, some eleven, some fourteen. Homer,
Xenophon, and Diodorus Siculus testify, that the ancient name of this
river was Egyptus; and the latter of these writers says, that it took
the name Nilus only since the time of a king of Egypt called by that
name. The Greeks gave it the name of Melas; and Diodorus Siculus
observes, that the most ancient name by which the Grecians have known
the Nile was Oceanus. The Egyptians paid divine honours to this river,
and called it Jupiter Nilus.
Very little rain ever falls in Egypt, never sufficient to fertilize the
land; and but for the provision of this bountiful river, the country
would be condemned to perpetual sterility. As it is, from the joint
operation of the regularity of the flood, the deposit of mud from the
water of the river and the warmth of the climate, it is the most fertile
country in the world; the produce exceeding all calculation. It has in
consequence been, in all ages, the granary of the east; and has on more
than one occasion, an instance of which is recorded in the history of
Joseph, saved the neighbouring countries from starvation. It is
probable, that, while in these countries, on the occasion referred to,
the seven years’ famine was the result of the absence of rain, in Egypt
it was brought about by the inundation being withheld: and the
consternation of the Egyptians, at witnessing this phenomenon for seven
successive years, may easily be conceived. The origin and course of the
Nile being unknown to the ancients, its stream was held, and is still
held by the natives, in the greatest veneration; and its periodical
overflow was viewed with mysterious wonder. But both of these are now,
from the discoveries of the moderns, better understood. It is now known,
that the sources, or permanent springs, of the Nile are situated in the
mountains of Abyssinia, and the unexplored regions to the west and
south-west of that country; and that the occasional supplies, or causes
of the inundation, are the periodical rains which fall in those
districts. For a correct knowledge of these facts, and of the true
position of the source of that branch of the river, which has generally
been considered to be the continuation of the true Nile, we are indebted
to our countryman, the intrepid and indefatigable Bruce. Although the
Nile, by way of eminence, has been called the river of Egypt,” it must
not be confounded with another stream so denominated in Scripture, an
insignificant rivulet in comparison, which falls into the Mediterranean
below Gaza.
having watered several kingdoms, the Nile continues its course far into
the kingdom of Goiam. Then it winds about again, from the east to the
north. Having crossed several kingdoms and provinces, it falls into
Egypt at the cataracts, which are waterfalls over steep rocks of the
length of two hundred feet. At the bottom of these rocks the Nile
returns to its usual pace, and thus flows through the valley of Egypt.
Its channel, according to Villamont, is about a league broad. At eight
miles below Grand Cairo, it is divided into two arms, which make a
triangle, whose base is at the Mediterranean Sea, and which the Greeks
call the Delta, because of its figure Δ. These two arms are divided into
others, which discharge themselves into the Mediterranean, the distance
of which from the top of the Delta is about twenty leagues. These
branches of the Nile the ancients commonly reckoned to be seven. Ptolemy
makes them nine, some only four, some eleven, some fourteen. Homer,
Xenophon, and Diodorus Siculus testify, that the ancient name of this
river was Egyptus; and the latter of these writers says, that it took
the name Nilus only since the time of a king of Egypt called by that
name. The Greeks gave it the name of Melas; and Diodorus Siculus
observes, that the most ancient name by which the Grecians have known
the Nile was Oceanus. The Egyptians paid divine honours to this river,
and called it Jupiter Nilus.
Very little rain ever falls in Egypt, never sufficient to fertilize the
land; and but for the provision of this bountiful river, the country
would be condemned to perpetual sterility. As it is, from the joint
operation of the regularity of the flood, the deposit of mud from the
water of the river and the warmth of the climate, it is the most fertile
country in the world; the produce exceeding all calculation. It has in
consequence been, in all ages, the granary of the east; and has on more
than one occasion, an instance of which is recorded in the history of
Joseph, saved the neighbouring countries from starvation. It is
probable, that, while in these countries, on the occasion referred to,
the seven years’ famine was the result of the absence of rain, in Egypt
it was brought about by the inundation being withheld: and the
consternation of the Egyptians, at witnessing this phenomenon for seven
successive years, may easily be conceived. The origin and course of the
Nile being unknown to the ancients, its stream was held, and is still
held by the natives, in the greatest veneration; and its periodical
overflow was viewed with mysterious wonder. But both of these are now,
from the discoveries of the moderns, better understood. It is now known,
that the sources, or permanent springs, of the Nile are situated in the
mountains of Abyssinia, and the unexplored regions to the west and
south-west of that country; and that the occasional supplies, or causes
of the inundation, are the periodical rains which fall in those
districts. For a correct knowledge of these facts, and of the true
position of the source of that branch of the river, which has generally
been considered to be the continuation of the true Nile, we are indebted
to our countryman, the intrepid and indefatigable Bruce. Although the
Nile, by way of eminence, has been called the river of Egypt,” it must
not be confounded with another stream so denominated in Scripture, an
insignificant rivulet in comparison, which falls into the Mediterranean
below Gaza.