246 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book m 



and not materials fuch as Jlone and brick. — In this they exceeded 

 all the world. — All thefe arts ^joined with their prodigeous numbers, 

 and the arts and/ciences they invented, make them the mojl wonder- 

 ful people on earth. — Of the prefent Jlate of Egypt ,— wonderfully 

 changed for the worfe^—frft, as to the numbers of the people. — "The 

 antient Egyptian Race not to be fomid in Egypt : So that the na>- 

 tion may be faid to be annihilated. — Injlead of being the mojl fruit' 

 ful country in the world, not able to maintain the few inhabi" 

 tants that are in it : And, inflead of being the healthiefl country 

 in the worlds it is now the feat of difeafe. 



IN this chapter I propofe to compare the antient with the prelent 

 ftatg of Egypt; a compai'ifon which will exhibit an alteration, 

 and a change fer the worfe, fuch as is not to be found in any other 

 country upon the earth, though in all countries the changes have 

 been very great in latter times, and I am afraid none for the better. 



Herodotus has faid, that, in his time, Egypt exhibited more won- 

 ders both of nature and of art, than all the countries of the earth 

 put together*: And he mentions particularly their heaven, or cli- 

 mate they enjoyed, and their river fo different from other rivers, 

 and alfo the manners of the people. As to their climate, the coun- 

 try is in fuch a latitude, as not to be liable to any excefs, either of 

 heat or cold, nor of dry or of wet. In Upper Egypt it never rains; 

 or if it did, it was, in antient times, accounted a prodigy; which, 

 Herodotus tells us, was the cafe before the Perfian conqueftj and then 

 it only rained in drops : And in Lower Egypt it rains but feldom ; 

 nor have they any of thofe fogs or milf s,which make other climates, 

 lefs favoured by Heaven, fo unwholefome. They have not, there* 

 fore, that fucceffion of hot and cold, dry and moift, nor in general 



that 

 ♦ lib. 2. cap. 35. 



