o 5 4 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



*#OT^£= 



CHAP. XVI 



Various Names of ibis River — Ancient Opinion concerning the Caufe of its 

 Inundation — Real Manner by which it is effecled — Remarkable Difpo- 

 fition of the Peninfula of Africa. 



I 



T is not to be wondered, that, in the long courfe the Nile 

 makes from its fource to the fea, it mould have acqui- 

 red a different name in every territory, where a different lan- 

 guage was fpoken ; but there is one thing remarkable, that 

 though the name in found and in letters is really different, 

 yet the fignification is the fame, and has an obvious refer- 

 ence to the dog-liar. 



Among the Agow, a barbarous and idolatrous nation, it 

 is called Gzeir, Geefa *, Seir ; the firfh of thefe names figni- 

 fying God; it is alfo called Abba, or Ab, Father; and by 

 many other terms which I cannot write in the language of 

 that nation, whilfl, with a fervent and unfeigned devotion, 



under 



* From a nation of Shangalla of that name, through which it runs, after having paflcd its 

 fcurce, and taken its courfe into Nubia. 



