THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. n 



above from the Nile, by a califh, or canal, vulgarly called 

 the Canal of Cleopatra, though it was certainly coeval with 

 the foundation of the city ; it has no other name at this day. 



This circumftance, however, remedied in the beginning, 

 was fatal to the city's magnificence ever after, and the caufe 

 of its being in the Hate it is at this day. 



The importance of its fituation to trade and commerce, 

 made it a principal object of attention to each party in 

 every war. It was eafily taken, becaufe it had no water ; 

 and, as it coald not be kept, it was deflroyed by the con- 

 queror, that the temporary poileilion of it might not turn 

 to be a fource of advantage to an enemy. 



We are not, however, to fuppofe, that the country all 

 around it was as bare in the days of profperity as it is now. 

 Population, we fee, produces a fwerd of grafs round ancient 

 cities in the mod defert parts of Africa, which keeps the 

 fand immoveable till the place is no longer inhabited. 



I apprehend the numerous lakes in Egypt were all 

 contrived as refervoirs to lay up a (lore of water for fup- 

 piying gardens and plantations in the months of the Nile's 

 decreife. The great effects of a very little water are feen 

 along the califh, or canal, in a number of bufhes that it 

 produces, and thick plantations of date-trees, all in a very 

 1 ; riant flate ; and this, no doubt, in the days of the 

 Ptolemies, was extended further, more attended to, and bet- 

 ter underftood. 



v. i. B 2 Pompey's 



