﻿BANKS OF THE RIVER NILE. 157 



Nile are situated in the mountains of Abyssinia, and in the regions 

 to the west and southwest of that country ; and that the occasional 

 inudations of the river are caused by the periodical rains which fall 

 in those districts. 



Look upon your maps, if you have not a distinct impression of 

 the location and course of this river. After having watered several 

 kingdoms, it flows far into the kingdom of Goiam. Then it winds 

 about from the east to the north, and then falls into Egypt at the 

 cataracts, or waterfalls, over steep rocks of the length of two hun- 

 dred feet. At the bottom of these rocks the Nile returns to its 

 usual place, and thus flows through the valley of Egypt. The 

 breadth of its channel is about a league. 



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, J. 

 These two arms are divided into others, which discharge themselves 

 into the Mediterranean Sea, the distance of which from the top of 

 the Delta is about sixty miles. 



The Egyptians paid divine honors to this river, and called it Ju- 

 piter Nilus. Christians admire the river, and honor Him who made 

 it. 



As I said before, very little rain ever falls in Egypt ; never a suffi- 

 cient quantity to fertilize the land ; and were it not for the wonder- 

 ful provision of this bountiful river, the country would be condemned 

 (o perpetual sterility. But as it is, the regularity of the flood, the 

 deposits of rich soil from the water of the river, and the warmth of 

 the climate, make it one of the most fertile countries in the world : 

 the produce exceeds all the calculation of New England boys. 



It has, in consequence, been, in all ages, the granary of the east ; 

 and has on more than one occasion, an instance of which you will 

 find in the history of Joseph, saved the neighboring countries from 

 starvation. 



" Moses, my lad, what is meekness ? " 



" It is what gives smooth answers to rough questions." 



" Right ; you may go to the head." 



