An Account of Egypt | Page 9

the Nile, when it is in
flood, goes over not only the Delta but also of the land which is called
Libyan and of that which is called Arabian sometimes as much as two
days' journey on each side, and at times even more than this or at times
less.
As regards the nature of the river, neither from the priests nor yet from
any other man was I able to obtain any knowledge: and I was desirous
especially to learn from them about these matters, namely why the Nile

comes down increasing in volume from the summer solstice onwards
for a hundred days, and then, when it has reached the number of these
days, turns and goes back, failing in its stream, so that through the
whole winter season it continues to be low, and until the summer
solstice returns. Of none of these things was I able to receive any
account from the Egyptians, when I inquired of them what power the
Nile has whereby it is of a nature opposite to that of all other rivers.
And I made inquiry, desiring to know both this which I say and also
why, unlike all other rivers, it does not give rise to any breezes blowing
from it. However some of the Hellenes who desired to gain distinction
for cleverness have given an account of this water in three different
ways: two of these I do not think it worth while even to speak of except
only to indicate their nature; of which the one says that the Etesian
Winds are the cause that makes the river rise, by preventing the Nile
from flowing out into the sea. But often the Etesian Winds fail and yet
the Nile does the same work as it is wont to do; and moreover, if these
were the cause, all the other rivers also which flow in a direction
opposed to the Etesian Winds ought to have been affected in the same
way as the Nile, and even more, in as much as they are smaller and
present to them a feebler flow of streams: but there are many of these
rivers in Syria and many also in Libya, and they are affected in no such
manner as the Nile. The second way shows more ignorance than that
which has been mentioned, and it is more marvellous to tell; for it says
that the river produces these effects because it flows from the Ocean,
and that the Ocean flows round the whole earth. The third of the ways
is much the most specious, but nevertheless it is the most mistaken of
all: for indeed this way has no more truth in it than the rest, alleging as
it does that the Nile flows from melting snow; whereas it flows out of
Libya through the midst of the Ethiopians, and so comes out into Egypt.
How then should it flow from snow, when it flows from the hottest
parts to those which are cooler? And indeed most of the facts are such
as to convince a man (one at least who is capable of reasoning about
such matters), that it is not at all likely that it flows from snow. The
first and greatest evidence is afforded by the winds, which blow hot
from these regions; the second is that the land is rainless always and
without frost, whereas after snow has fallen rain must necessarily come
within five days, so that if it snowed in those parts rain would fall there;

the third evidence is afforded by the people dwelling there, who are of
a black colour by reason of the burning heat. Moreover kites and
swallows remain there through the year and do not leave the land; and
cranes flying from the cold weather which comes on in the region of
Scythia come regularly to these parts for wintering: if then it snowed
ever so little in that land through which the Nile flows and in which it
has its rise, none of these things would take place, as necessity compels
us to admit. As for him who talked about the Ocean, he carried his tale
into the region of the unknown, and so he need not be refuted; since I
for my part know of no river Ocean existing, but I think that Homer or
one of the poets who were before him invented the name and
introduced it into his verse.
If however after I have found fault with the opinions proposed, I am
bound to declare an opinion of my own about the matters which are in
doubt, I will tell what to my mind is the reason why the Nile increases
in the summer. In the winter season the Sun, being driven away from
his former path through the heaven