THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 637 



of the mountain of Geefh, arifes a hillock of a circular 

 form, about three feet from the furface of the marfh it- 

 felf, though apparently founded much deeper in it. The 

 diameter of this is fomething fhort of twelve feet, it is fur- 

 rounded by a mallow trench, which collects the water and 

 voids it eaft ward ; it is firmly built with fod or earthen turf, 

 brought from the fides, and conftantly kept in repair, artel 

 this is the altar upon which all their religious ceremo. ks 

 are performed. In the middle of this altar is a hole, obvi- 

 oully made, or at leaf!: enlarged by the hand of man. It 

 is kept clear of grafs, or other aquatic plants, and the wa- 

 ter in it is perleclly pure and limpid, but has no ebullition 

 or motion of any kind difcernible upon its furface. This 

 mouth, or opening of the fource, is fome parts of an inch 

 Iefs than three feet diameter, and the water ftood at that 

 time the 5th of November, about two inches from the ! : p 

 or brim, nor did it either increafe or diminifh during all the 

 time of my ftay at Geefh though we made plentiful ufe of it. 



Upon putting down the fbaft of my lance at fix feet four 

 inches, I found a very reeble refinance, as if from weak 

 rufhes or grafs, and about lix inches deeper I found my 

 lance had entered into foft earth, but met with no ftones 

 or gravel; this was confirmed by another experiment, made 

 on the 9th with a heavy plummet and line befmeared with 

 foap, the bottom of which brought up at the above depth 

 only black earth, fuch. as the marfh itfelf and its fides are 

 compofed of. 



Ten feet diftant from the firft of thefe fprings, a little 

 to the weft of fouth, is the fecond fountain, about eleven 

 inches in diameter, but this is eight feet, three inches deep. 



And 



