Nubiensis Geographia makes it to extend in length from Assuan to the Mediterranean, 25 Days Journey, which is about 655 English Miles, and in breadth 8 Days Journey or 200 Miles; but Sandys and Vansleb agree ’tis from North to South only 560 Miles, the latter alledging it scarce possible to declare its length precisely, by reason they are not wont in that Country to measure by Miles or Leagues, but by Camels Journeys only. As to its breadth, Leo Africanus says, p. 296, it is from East to West 50 Miles, being narrow towards the South, but broader to the North towards the Mediterranean. Sandys likewise, p. 72. says, That by reason of its being so contracted among barren Mountains, it is in many Places hardly 4, in few above 8 Miles broad, till not far above Cairo it begins by degrees to enlarge it self, and so continues even to the Sea, being between Rosetta and Damiata, which stand on the West and East-Confines of that which is overflow’d by the natural Course of the River, 140 Miles, and from Rosetta to Alexandria 30.

Concerning the Division of this Country, the Ancients have taken occasion to divide it first into high and low, and then into high, middle and low; the higher they call’d Thebais, from a Place call’d Thebes, at present Saida; the middle they nam’d Septanomos, from the seven Nomi, Provostships or Governments it contain’d, at present Bechira or Demesor; the lower and more particular Egypt they call’d Delta, from its likeness to the Figure of the Greek Letter Δ. Egypt, according to Sandys, p. 85. is now divided into three Parts or Provinces; that which lies South of Cairo is call’d Sahid, that between Cairo, Rosetta and Alexandria, Errif, that between Cairo, Damiata and Tenese, Maremnia, Bechiria: The Pharaohs and Egyptian Nobility resided in Saida, the Ptolomies in Errif, and the Romans and Greeks along the Sea-Coasts.

I must now proceed to speak of the River Nile, which crossing great part of Æthiopia, and then entring Egypt, runs the whole length of that Kingdom, and after dividing and spreading it self into many Branches, ends in the Mediterranean Sea. This River was thought by the Ancients not to have its equal, and is still reputed one of the most considerable of the World, having somewhat wonderful and peculiar to it self, whether one considers its Source or Effects. To this River Egypt ows its Fertility, and its Inhabitants the greatest of Felicities, their Health and Fortunes, yet neither could their rich Princes or wise Priests ever discover its Source or Origin. ’Tis this has baffl’d the greatest Philosophers, and withstood the Attempts of all their Kings, Roman Emperors, Sultans and other Potentates, who, notwithstanding they endeavour’d it with vast Expenses, always prov’d unsuccessful: Thus Sesostris, Ptolemy and Cyrus sought for it in vain; Alexander the Great consulted the Oracle of Jupiter Ammon in order to find it out, and Cambyses, as Strabo witnesses, spent a whole Year to the same purpose, yet both were disappointed: Julius Cæsar also, if we may believe Lucan, said, He would have given over his pursuit of the Civil War, could he but have been sure to find out this Secret, yet has its Spring-Head remain’d undiscover’d till of late Years, when it was happily pitch’d upon by the Portugueses, which makes me of the Opinion of Le Bruyn, That no Persons are more capable of making these Searches and Discoveries than the Roman Missionaries; for on one hand they make it their Duty and perpetual Employment to go about everywhere gaining Proselites, and subjecting them to the See of Rome, and on the other, under pretence of Devotion, and by virtue of their poor and simple Habit, may easily penetrate the most remote Countries, inaccessible to other Travellers by reason of the Dangers that are to be met with. Now ’tis certain almost all those Missionaries, especially the Jesuites, are most capable of making these Searches, by reason of their insinuating and cunning Ways, so that making it their Business, as they commonly do, they must be most likely to succeed therein; ’tis therefore to their Care and Pains we are indebted for two considerable Discoveries, of the Source and Rise of this River; the first made by Peter Pais, and the second by Father Telles a Jesuit, which last being the shorter Account, yet no less Correct, I shall here insert it as he has given it us in his History of Æthiopia, printed at Lisbon.

In the Kingdom of Gojam, about 12 Degrees from the Equinoctial towards the West, and in the Province of Sacahala, inhabited by the Agaus, in a Field of no great extent, incompass’d by many high Mountains, is a small Lake, over which one may cast a Stone, full of Bushes and low Trees, whereof the Roots are so thick and intangl’d, that in Summer one may pass over them dry shod. In the middle of this Lake are two great and deep Fountains very near each other, whence issues out a clear Water that runs under these Bushes and Shrubs, in two several Channels. Towards the East, and about the distance of a Musket-Shot, they turn to the North. About half a Mile from thence there appears a great deal of Water, and a considerable River, into which run many other Streams. About 15 Miles farther it receives another larger Water call’d Gema, which looses then its Name. A little farther, turning towards the East, it receives two other considerable Streams call’d Kelti and Branti: Near this Place is the first fall of the River; not much farther running towards the East, it enters the Lake of the Abyssins, nam’d Bahr Dembea, or the Sea of Dembea. When it has pass’d through this Lake, without mingling with its Waters, it receives many other great Rivers, and chiefly the River Tekeze near Egypt. So soon as Nile is out of the Lake Dembea, it turns to the South-East, leaving on the left the Kingdoms of Beg-amidr, Amhara and Voleca; afterwards running towards the South, it has on the South-East the Kingdom of Sauva, and then turning again to East-North-East, has on the South, Ganz, Gafata and Bizamo, passing through the Countries of Gonga and Gafre; a little farther it passes by Fascalo, then enters the Country of Funch or Nubia, whence it runs into Egypt, as Father Telles affirms. But how it is there distributed and divided, I shall shew by and by, after I have mention’d two of its Principal Cataracts or Cascades of a surprizing Nature.

One of these is at Ilack, in Numidia, and the other above Siene in Egypt, being 12 Days Journey from each other. Ptolomy calls the most Southern, the Great Cataract, and the other, which he places about Siene, now Assuan, the Lesser. This falls about 50 foot, but the other three times as high, which last rouling off the Rocks into a vast Abyss, the Waters, says Sandys, p. 73. make such a roaring Noise, that a Colony, planted there by the Persians, were made almost Deaf with it, and glad to abandon their Habitations, tho’ otherwise plentifully provided with all Necessaries of Life. The adjoyning People nevertheless are of that incredible boldness, that daring to commit themselves in little Boats (capable of holding only two, whereof the one Steers and the other Rows) unto the raging Current, and impetuous Eddies, have been seen to pass the Streights of the Rocks by little Channels, and at length to rush down with the Stream, to the amazement of all Beholders, who giving them up for lost, beheld them a while after as if shot out of an Engin, far from the place of their Fall, rowing safely in the asswaged Waters; but Danet will not allow the Noise made by the Cataracts, renders the neighbouring Inhabitants Deaf, tho’ the same may be heard 3 Days Journey off, and the Waters which rush down appear like Smoak, being forc’d with so great a violence, that they form a kind of Arch, and leave so great a space between, that a Man may pass it without being wet: There are also Seats cut under the Rocks, where Travellers may rest themselves.

The other Cascade, as Sandys, p. 73. tells us, is a little above the place where once stood the City Elephantis: There two pointed Rocks nam’d Crophi and Mophi, or the Veins of Nilus, lift up their eminent Heads, making the lesser Cataract by falling down with a furious Cascade into the upper Egypt; then running from South to North very leisurely, it divides its self into two navigable Branches. That towards the East runs into the Midland Sea near Damiata, heretofore Pelusium, while the other inclining to the West, and formerly call’d Canopus, falls into the self same Sea a little below Rosetta, making, of the richest Portion of the Land of Egypt, a triangular Island, call’d Delta, in that being thus inclos’d between these two Branches and the Sea, it bears the form of that Letter. Two other Branches there are which run between these, but poor in Water, besides divers Channels cut by the Labour of Man, for better Conveyance during the Time of Inundation.

Herodotus and Strabo reckon up seven Mouths of the Nile, but Egypt has been so much chang’d since their Time, that there is hardly any appearance or remembrance of the seven Cities they mention. Ptolemy, in his Geography, expresly gives the names of nine; but surely most of them must have been stop’d up by the Sands, since at present there are but three or four at most, as is affirm’d by William Arch-Bishop of Tyre, in his IX. Book, De Bell. Sac. cap. 33. and by Le Bruyn in his Voyage to the Levant, p. 161. who went on purpose to make such Discoveries. But this is however remarkable, that the fresh Waters of the Nile, keeping themselves united in a Body, and falling into the salt Water or Sea, change the Colour of the Mediterranean farther than any part thereof can be seen from the Shore. |Its Inundation.| Yet amongst all the Misteries of Nature, none is more wonderful than the Overflowing of this River, nor any Thing more Beneficial; since to this alone the Inhabitants owe not only their Riches but their Health, the most malignant Diseases immediately ceasing at the Approach of it, and Famine and Dearth are as quickly expell’d. It brings a Mirth and Joy to those People, and of a meer Desart it was before, for such is Egypt unwater’d by the Nile, makes that Country the most fruitful of any in the habitable World.

Now the Earth, which had been so long scorch’d by the violent heat of the Sun, is plentifully refresh’d with abundant Waters, and the very Cattel seem to rejoyce at the approaching verdant Season: Boats are row’d where not long before Men trod, and the Waters fill up the dusty Channels and long empty’d Cisterns, covering in many Places the whole superficies of the Land, making it appear as a troubl’d Lake. Nor is this an unpleasant sight to the Natives, who think the less they see of their Country, the more their Comfort will be. During this Inundation they keep their Beasts and Cattel on the tops of such little Hills, as either the Providence of Nature, or Industry of Man has prepar’d, where they abide, waiting patiently for the decrease of the Waters. On these Hills also stand most of their Towns and Villages, appearing, in the time of the Flood; like so many Islands, the People in the mean Time holding Commerce and continual Traffick, by intercourse of Boats and Shallops, in which they transport their marketable Commodities from one Place to another.

This Increase of Waters begins about the 16th or 17th of June, when the Nile swells above its Banks for the space of 40 Days, and in as many more gathers its Waters again to their proper Bounds; so that its greatest height is about the end of July, and decrease about the beginning of September. If it begins sooner or later, the People give Judgment whether there will be more or less Water, and consequently are advertis’d to the end they may take Order for what they have to do. The Increase is known by certain Pillars in their Towns, and particularly in the Castle of Roude, which stands in a little Isle opposite to old Cairo, where the Bassa resides, during the Solemnity of opening the Khalis or Channel, which passes thro’ and fills the Cisterns of Grand Cairo. It is also known in the Fields by Asps, Tortoises, Crawfish, Crocodiles, &c. who remove their Eggs or Young from the Banks of the Nile, immediately before the Inundation, and lay them up where they may be preserv’d.

Now answerable to the Increase of this River is the Plenty or Scarcity of the succeeding Year. Heylin in his Cosmography writes, If it flow not to the height of 15 Cubits, then the Earth will be deficient in her Abundance or Increase for want of Moisture; and if it surmount the superficies of the Earth, more than 17 Cubits, then, like a drunken Man, it cannot produce its natural Operation, having its Stomach cloy’d and surcharg’d as it were with too much Liquor; but if a moderate flowing happen, then can no Country boast of a like Fertility, the Flood bringing with it both Earth and Water into a sandy and thirsty Soil, which as well manures as moistens it with the Fat and pregnant Slime it leaves behind, and, as I said before, produces both Riches and Health; for the Plague, which here oftentimes miserably rages, upon the first Day of the Flood instantly ceases, insomuch, that whereas 500 had died at Cairo the Day before, on the Day following there dies not one Man. But if it at any Time happens that the River does not thus overflow the Country, then is it commonly the fore-runner of a following Dearth. Thus, when this River flows but to 16 Degrees, they fear a Famine, but when it comes to 23, ’tis a sign of a good Year, whereas when ’tis too high the Inundation is dangerous. Thevenot says, If it rises but to 16 Foot, a Famine unavoidably follows for want of Water; and if it swells to 24, there will be a Dearth, because the Seed-Time must be lost. There are besides many other rare Properties belonging to this River, which to relate would make my Digression too long, and my intent was only to mention such Things as chiefly tend to a Natural History, among which, those curious Observations made by Father Vansleb are most to my purpose, which therefore I shall insert as follows:

This is remarkable of Nile, says my Author, That it begins to increase and decrease on a certain Day, and that when it first increases, it grows green and afterwards appears red: The Day on which it begins to increase is Yearly the 12th of June, according to the Copties Account, or the 17th according to Ours, when the Natives observe the Feast of St. Michael the Arch-Angel, on which Feast the Drops begin to fall: Now these Drops, according to the Opinion of the Inhabitants, are Tokens of the Mercies and Blessings of GOD. They believe GOD sends the Arch-Angel, St. Michael, on that Day to cause the River to be Fruitful; this is the common sentiment the People have, but the Learned say, these Drops are a kind of Dew, which falls towards the last quarter of the Night, near the Morning, and causes the River to be Fertile, Purifies the Air from all Infection of Camsin, and gives Strength and Virtue to whatever it falls upon.

These Drops are doubtless the sole Cause of the Fertility of the Nile; for as soon as the Dew is fallen, the Waters begin to corrupt and turn of a greenish Colour: This Colour increases more and more till the River appears as a Lake cover’d all over with Moss; this Colour is to be seen not only in its great Channel, but also in all the Bounds and Branches that come from it, the Cisterns only preserving their Water pure; some Years this green Colour continues about 20 Days, and sometimes longer, but never above 40. The Egyptians call this Time il chadraviat, for then they suffer much, the Water being corrupt and unwholesome, and because good Water is very scarce. These Drops or Dew purifie the Air, for so soon as ever they begin to fall, the Plague ceases to be mortal, none die of it; the Air becomes wholesome, all Diseases are disarm’d, and if any Person happens to be sick of it, he shall be sure not to die. This Dew gives Life to every Thing, and when it falls on the Wheat, causes it to continue many Years without Corruption or Worms, nay makes it far more Nourishing than any Corn on which it has never come. For this Reason the Natives never house the Grand Signiors Corn till this Dew be fallen, to the end it may keep the longer free from Worms.

The Increase of this River proceeds from several Causes; the first and chiefest of which, is the Fermentation caused therein by this Dew, which falls precisely at the Time before-mention’d. The continual Rains of Æthiopia, that come in July, August and September, which is the Winter Quarter of this Country, together with the great Torrents of Water that rush down from the Mountains, into the Rivers that flow into the Nile, may be look’d on as another Cause of its Increase; for I cannot conceive the Fermentation can last 100 Days, and singly cause it to increase so much as it is wont. The third Cause are the Westerly Winds call’d Maestrals, and by the Egyptians Maltem, which begin about 12 Days before the Dew comes, and continue about four Months without Cessation; they blow directly into the Nile, and hinder the fresh Water from coming out, so that it returns back, which causes the River to swell. So soon as the green Colour is gone, the River begins to turn red and very muddy; ’tis then no doubt the Fermentation is past, and the Waters of Æthiopia are arriv’d in Egypt, which are of that Colour, by reason of the red Earth the furious Torrents from the Mountains carry along with them; for ’tis not probable the Land of Egypt, which is very black, should give that Tincture. In the Year 1673, at the beginning of July, the Water began to turn red, which continu’d to the end of December, the Time the River ordinarily returns to its usual bigness. The Egyptians have an Art to make this muddy Water as clear as Cristal; so soon as the Water-Bearers have fill’d their Vessels, they rub them in the inside with a Paste made of pounded Almonds, which in a short Time causes the Water to become very clear. In such Places where this Paste is not to be had, they use instead of it the Kernels of Apricocks, pounded after the same manner, and some say the Flower of little Beans will have the same Effect.

The Waters of this River have several Operations, for, First, They bring a Loosness on new Comers, in case the Parties drink them at their first arrival, and it continues about eight Days. Secondly, They cause an Itching in the Skin, which troubles those that drink them when the River increases: This Itch is very small, appearing first about the Arms, then on the Stomach, and afterwards spreading all over the Body, which causes grievous Pain. This Itch comes not only on such as have drunk of the River, but such as drink out of the Cisterns fill’d with River-Water; it lasts about six Weeks. Thirdly, About the Months of June, July, August and September it turns into Sweat, but is not so in any other Time of the Year. Fourthly, When this Water covers the Earth, it fattens the Land with the Slime it leaves behind. Monsieur Thevenot is mistaken in his Travels into the Levant, where he says, This Slime makes the Ground so fat, that if Sand were not mingl’d with it, it would Rot and Choak whatever is put into it; and that in Egypt they take as much Pains to carry Sand upon their Land, as we do to lay Dung. This is not generally so, for they never use Sand but for Melons, Cucumbers, and such like Fruits, which grow best in sandy Grounds; they never use it for other Fruits and Grains. Thus far Vansleb.

Sandys, speaking in Commendation of these Waters, says, They procure liberal Urine, curing Pains in the Kidnies, and are a most sovereign Remedy against the Hypocondriacus Affectus, or Wind-Melancholy. They are not unpleasantly cold, but of all others the most sweet and wholsome, by reason of their being well concocted by the Sun, which at all Times is, in some part or other, directly over them, and by the length of their Course, running from South to North, besides Ambages above 41 Degrees, so that from this River there ascend no Vapours, the Humour being rarifi’d by so long a Progress, which tho’ exhal’d, assumes no visible Body, but undistinguishably mixes with the pure Air, agreeing with the same in tenuity. Thevenot speaks much to the same purpose in his Travels to the Levant, fol. 245. where he says, This Water is so wholsome, it never does any harm, tho’ drank to never so great a degree, by reason it comes a great way over Land, to wit, from Æthiopia, so that in so long a Course, thro’ so hot a Country, the Sun has Time to correct and purifie it from all Crudities, and indeed it is sweated out as fast as one drinks it.

They have no other Water to drink in Egypt, therefore most of their Cities, Towns and Villages stand on the Borders of this River; there are also many Canals and deep Ponds which have been caus’d to be cut at convenient Distances, by the Care and Magnificence of their Kings, for the Refreshment and Use of the People, who indeed need no other Drink. The Waters of this River are of such excellent Taste and Virtue, that when Pescennius Niger heard his Souldiers murmur for want of Wine, he thus reply’d, What! crave ye Wine and yet have Nile to drink of? The first Kings of Egypt made such account of them, that they almost drank nothing else; and when Ptolomy Philadelphus marry’d his Daughter Berenice to Antiochus Theos, King of Assyria, he gave orders that from Time to Time the Waters of Nile should be carry’d her, that she might drink no other Liquor. And indeed all Authors agree these Waters are sweet, healthful and nourishing, and that they keep a long Time without corrupting, for being left to settle but a small Season, they become clean, clear, and so sweet and pleasant, that they excel all others for smoothness and flavour. Gabriel Sionata in his Tract De Moribus Orientalium, p. 27. observes, That the Waters of Nile, being only kept in Pans three Days, and during that Time expos’d to the heat of the Sun, turn to a pure white Salt; so that the Land of Egypt has an inexhaustible supply of that which is so needful for the Life of Man, and that at small Expence. Moreover, whatever is here valuable proceeds from the Munificence of this River, whose Annual overflow is the only Cause of that wonderful Fertility of the Soil of this Country, which is so great that it is rather to be admir’d than describ’d.

In Times past it was reputed the Granary of the whole World, insomuch, that it was not thought possible for the Roman Empire to subsist without its affluence. Also, after Selimus Emperor of the Turks had conquer’d this Country, he was heard to say, That now he had taken a Farm would plentifully feed his Jemoglans. Monsieur Thevenot says, Egypt may well be stil’d an Earthly Paradise; for so great is its increase, that in many Places they reap two considerable Crops a Year; Hay they mow four Times, and as for Pease, Beans, and other Garden-Ware, those grow spontaneously all the Year round. All kinds of Fruit are exceeding plentiful, Grapes only excepted, which it may be Nature keeps back as thinking the Natives of Egypt can want no Wine, since they have so good Water. In a Word, Lucan thus characterizes this Country:

Next we shall speak of the Red Sea, as having been so very Famous, both for the miraculous Passage of the Israelites as upon dry Land, and the drowning of Pharaoh Cenchres, and all his Followers, as likewise for that thro’ it the Spices of India and Arabia were first brought to Alexandria, and thence dispers’d by the Venetians throughout all Europe, Africa and America, as Heylin, p. 852. testifies. The Turks call this Sea the Gulf of Mecca, and the Ancients nam’d it the Arabian Gulf or Red Sea, the reason of which last, see in Sir Thomas Brown’s Vulgar Errors, p. 261 and 262. who also tells us several Princes have attempted to cut thro’ the Isthmus, or narrow Tract of Land, that parts the Arabian and Mediterranean Seas, but whose intent was not immediately to unite those Waters, but to make a Navigable Channel betwixt the former and the Nile, the Marks whereof remain to this Day. This was first attempted by Sesostris King of Egypt, and afterwards by Darius King of Persia, but, for fear of drowning the Country, at length relinquish’d by them both; yet the same Thing was long after re-attempted, and in some measure effected by Ptolomy Philadelphus. Now the Grand Signior, who is Lord of all this Country, conveys his Gallies into the Red Sea by the Nile; for bringing them down to Grand Cairo, they are there taken to pieces, carry’d upon Camels Backs, and afterwards put together again at Sues, his Port and Naval Station for that Sea, whereby he in effect puts the Design of Cleopatra in execution, who after the Battle at Actium, in a different manner, would have convey’d her Gallies into the Red Sea. Here, as the same Author affirms, Coral grows in great abundance.

As concerning the Lakes of Egypt, that of King Mœris is not only the most admirable, but likewise the largest of all, denominated after his own Name, as is testify’d by Herodotus, Diodorus Siculus and Pliny; a Work the most useful and wonderful, says Greaves in his Pyramidographia, p. 11. if rightly consider’d, that ever was attempted by Man. In the midst of this Lake that King erected two Pyramids, one in Memory of himself, and the other of his Wife, each being 600 Feet in height. The Description of both these and of this Lake we have in Herodotus; the latter we find also in Strabo, but no where so fully as in Diodorus Siculus, Lib. 1. therefore I shall relate his Words: Ten Schænes (600 Furlongs, tho’ Strabo and Artemidorus before him observe a difference of Schænes in Egypt) above the City Memphis, Mœris dug a Lake of admirable Use, the Greatness of which is incredible, the Circumference of it being said to be 3600 Furlongs, and the Depth in many Places 50 Fathom (200 Cubits or 300 Feet.) Now who that shall seriously consider the vastness of this Work, can forbear asking how many Myriads of Men were employ’d on it, and in how many Years they accomplish’d it? The common Benefit of this Undertaking to those that inhabit Egypt, as also the Wisdom of its Royal Contriver, no Man can sufficiently admire; for since the increase of Nile is not always the same, and that the Country is ever made more Fertile by its moderate Rise, this King contriv’d a Lake to receive the superfluity of the Water, that neither the greatness of the Inundation unseasonably drowning the Country, might occasion Marshes or Lakes, nor the Rivers flowing less than required, corrupt the Fruits for want of Water. This Prince therefore caus’d a Ditch to be cut from the River Nile to this Lake, 80 Furlongs long and 300 Feet broad, by which, sometimes receiving in, and sometimes letting out the Water, he exhibited a seasonable quantity thereof to the Husbandmen, the mouth of this Ditch being sometimes open’d and sometimes shut, yet both not without much Art and great Expence, for he that would either open the Sluces or shut them, was under a necessity of expending at least 50 Talents. This Lake, thus benefiting the Egyptians, has continu’d even to our Times, and from its Author is at this Day call’d, The Lake of Mœris. He left a dry place in the midst, on which he built a Sepulcher and two Pyramids, each a Furlong high; one of these he made for himself, and the other for his Wife, placing on each a Marble Statue sitting on a Throne, imagining that by these Works he should transmit to Posterity an indelible Remembrance of his Worth. The Revenue arising from the Fish of this Lake he gave to his Wife for her Unguents and other Ornaments, which is said to have been not less worth to her than a Talent a Day; for according to common report there are 22 sorts of Fish in it, which are taken in such huge quantities, that those who are perpetually employ’d in salting them, of which there is a very large number, can hardly dispatch the Work. Thus far Diodorus Siculus, whose Description of this Lake, as it is much fuller than that of Herodotus, so Herodotus, Lib. 2. has this memorable Observation which Diodorus omitted. He says this Lake was made by Hand, as is apparent, because almost in the midst of it there stand two Pyramids, 50 Fathoms above Water and as many under: On each of these there is a Colossus of Stone, sitting on a Throne; so that by this means, these Pyramids must in all be 100 Fathoms high. Strabo likewise, Lib. 17. says, This Lake is wonderful, being like a Sea both for largeness and Colour.

Another Thing to be consider’d, as very useful in the Natural History of Embalming, is the Climate of Egypt, whether hot or cold, dry or moist, or compriz’d under other general Heads, such as those of the Heavens, Air, Water, Earth, Winds, Seasons, &c. which Qualities, as they are in great measure occasion’d by the Nile, so are they also best explain’d by setting forth those of that River, with their Effects; for Egypt by reason of its Southerly Situation is very hot, and during the whole Summer almost insupportable, which being farther increas’d by the reflexion of the Sun on its sandy Soil, renders the Air so exceedingly warm that one can hardly breath in it, which is indeed one of the greatest Inconveniencies Egypt lies under. This heat unavoidably dries up all the Rivers for near six Months together, so that the People must of necessity die with Famine, did not the Nile overflow and fill up their empty Channels, thereby relieving them, thirsty as their Soil. Now the Property of this River is the more remarkable, in that it differs from those of all others, which are only full in Winter; whereas, on the contrary, this overflows in Summer, when there is most occasion for it, as if purposely design’d by Providence to save a famish’d and scorch’d Country. Moreover this is worth taking notice of, that the Soil of Egypt being naturally Sandy and Steril, and withal very dry and scorch’d, is by means of the overflowing of Nile sufficiently water’d, and by the fat Mud it leaves behind made very Fertile and fit for Tillage.

The Air also of this Country, especially about Cairo, and farther towards the South, because so near the Line, is extream hot, for there, says Ogilby in his Description of Egypt, p. 115. the Sun casts its Beams perpendicularly from Cancer, during which Time of violent Heat the People are wont to dwell in Caverns; nay in Cairo, in the midst of every House, there are Wells with Water in them, which not only cool the Mansions but refresh their Inhabitants: They have likewise contriv’d large Pipes or Funnels in the midst of their Houses, which standing right up into the Air, with broad Mouths like Bells, and lying open to the North, receive the cool Air, which is thereby sent down into the lowermost Rooms. For shade also in the Streets, every Dwelling has a broad Penthouse; and for further refreshment the Inhabitants use Bathing, having curious Bagnio’s of fresh and clear Water from the River Nile, without any mixture either of Herbs or medicinal Ingredients.

The Heat of this Country is moreover somewhat moderated by the overflowing of Nile, and the continual blowing of cool Northerly Winds, otherwise it would be so vehement, neither Man nor Beast could be able to breath in it. In Winter the Air is hot and dry, tho’ sometimes a little cool, yet generally extream hot, and more prejudicial to the Head than any other part of the Body. Sandys says, p. 76. It is as hot with them in the depth of Winter, as with us in the midst of July. The Air a Nights is cool, which after Sun-rising becomes a little warm, at Noon very hot, but at Night returns to be cold again, so that its inequality breeds many Diseases; nevertheless, in as much as it is exceeding Serene, being constantly free both from Rain, Clouds, Mists, Fogs, Hail, Snow, &c. which rarely happen, it is accounted very healthful; and in this Sense we must take Herodotus Lib. 2. where he says, The Egyptians are the Healthiest People of the World, by reason of the immutability of their Air. But that it Rains, Hails and Snows sometimes in that Country, tho’ many of the Ancients deny it, is plainly confirm’d by several modern Writers, wherefore Sir Thomas Brown places that assertion among his Vulgar Errors, and p. 260 thus confutes it. ’Tis confirm’d, says he, by many, and believ’d by most, that it never Rains in Egypt, the River Nile plentifully supplying that Defect, and bountifully requiting it by its Inundation; yet this must be understood in a qualify’d Sense, that is, that it Rains there but seldom in Summer, and very rarely in Winter. |Rain in Egypt.| But that great Showers do sometimes fall on this Region, besides the Assertion of many Writers, is confirm’d by the Honourable and Occular Testimony of Sir William Paston, Bar^t. who affirms, That not many Years since it rain’d in Grand Cairo for divers Days together. The same is likewise attested as to other parts of Egypt by Prosper Alpinus, who liv’d long in that Country, and has left us an accurate Treatise of the Medicinal Practice there: Cairi, raro decidunt Pluviæ, Alexandriæ, Pelusiiq; & in omnibus Locis Mari adjacentibus, pluit largissime & sæpe. That is, It Rains seldom at Cairo, but at Alexandria, Damiata, and other Places near the Sea, very often and plentifully. The same likewise is to be inferr’d from this Author concerning Snow, Rarissime Nix, Grando, &c. It seldom either Snows or Hails, wherefore we cannot deny Snow or Hail never to fall because they happen but seldom. The rarity of them however may be the occasion of that Saying of Horace, Lib, 3. Ode 26.