THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 419 



top to the bottom, and thefe are filled with hieroglyphics 

 in the lafl ftage, before they took the entire refemblance 

 of letters. Many are perfectly formed ; the Crux Anfata 

 appears in one of the compartments, and Tot in another. 

 Upon the edge, juft above where it is broken, is 1 1 19, fo fair 

 and perfect in form, that it might ferve as an example of 

 caligraphy, even in the prefent times ; 45 and 19, and iome 

 other arithmetical figures, are found up and down among 

 the hieroglyphics. 



This I fuppofe was what formerly the Egyptians called 

 a book, or almanack ; a collection of thefe was probably 

 hung up in fome confpicuous place, to inform the public of 

 the flate of the heavens, and feafons, and difcafes, to be ex- 

 pected'in the courfe of them, as is the cafe in the Englilli al- 

 manacks at this day. Hermes is faid to have compofed 

 36,535 books, probably of this fort, or they might contain 

 the correfpondent aftronomical obfervations made in a cer- 

 tain time at Meroe, Ophir, Axum, or Thebes, communicated 

 to be hung up for the ufe of the neighbouring cities. Por- 

 phyry * gives a particular account of the Egyptian alma- 

 nacks. " What is comprifed in the Egyptian almanacks, fays 

 he, contains but a fmail part of the Hermaic inftitutions ; all 

 that relates to the rifmg and fetting of the moon and pla- 

 nets, and of the ftars and their influence, and alfo fome ad- 

 vice upon difeafes." 



It is very remarkable, that, bolides my Tot here defcrib- 

 ed, there are five or fix, precifely the fame in all refpects, al- 



3 G 2 ready 



— .... ■ ■■ . -■■■-,. ■ —, — «. — .. _ 1 :___— — . - . - ■ -—- \ 



* Porpyhry Epifh ad Aneboncm, 



