THE EARTH. 185 



But of all parts of the world, America, as it 

 exhibits the most lofty mountains, so also it sup- 

 plies the largest rivers. The foremost of these is 



very gentle slope from the large village of Sacala, which gives its name to 

 the territory, and is about six miles distant from the source, though to 

 appearance not above two. About the middle of this marsh, and not quite 

 40 yards from the foot of the mountain of Geesh, rises a circular hillock 

 about three feet from the surface of the marsh itself, though founded ap- 

 parently much deeper in it The diameter of this hillock is not quite 1 2 

 feet, and it is surrounded by a shallow trench which collects the water, and 

 sends it off to the eastward. This is firmly built of sod brought from 

 the sides, and kept constantly in repair by the Agows, who worship 

 the river, and perform their religious ceremonies upon this as an altar. 

 This is the first fountain of the Nile. The second fountain is situated at 

 about 10 feet distant from the former, a little to the west of south ; and is only 

 1 1 inches in diameter, but eight feet three inches deep.^The third is about 

 20 feet south-south-west from the first ; the mouth being somewhat more than 

 two feet in diameter, and five feet eight inches in depth, and from the foot 

 of each issues a brisk running rill, which, uniting with the water of the first 

 trench, goes off at the east side in a stream which, our author conjectures, 

 would fill a pipe about two inches diameter. The water of these fountains 

 is extremely light and good, and intensely cold, though exposed to the 

 scorching heat of the sun without any shelter ; there being no trees nearer 

 than the cliff of Geesh. The longitude of die principal fountain was found 

 by Mr Bruce to be 36 55' 3O" E. from Greenwich. 



The Nile, thus formed by the union of streams from these three fountains, 

 runs eastward through the marsh for about 30 yards, with very little increase 

 of its water, but still distinctly visible, till it is met by the grassy brink of 

 the land descending from Sacala. By this it is turned gradually north-east, 

 and then due north ; and in the two miles in which it flows in that direction 

 it receives many small streams from springs on each side ; so that about this 

 distance from the fountains it becomes a stream capable of turning a 

 common mill. From this it turns to the westward ; and, after running 

 about four miles farther, there is a small cataract of about six feet in height ; 

 after which it leaves the mountainous country, and takes its course through 

 the plains of Goutto. Here it flows so gently that its motion is scarcely 

 to be perceived, but winds in its direction more than any river Mr Bruce 

 ever saw ; forming more than 20 sharp angular peninsulas in the space of 

 five miles. Issuing out from thence, however, it is joined by several rivulets 

 which fall from the mountains on each side, so that it becomes a consider- 

 able stream, with high and broken banks covered with old timber trees 

 for three miles. In its course it inclines to the north-east, and winds very 

 much, till it receives first a small river named Diwa, and then another named 



