BOOK V. X. 56-58 



its volume consequently reduced. But if anybody 

 is inclined to accept the possibility of Timaeus's 

 explanation that the waters of the river are di-awn 

 out of the earth, there is the fact that in these 

 regions absence of shadows goes on continuously at 

 this season." 



The Xile begins to rise at the next new moon 

 after midsummer, the rise being gradual and moderate 

 while the sun is passing through the Crab and at 

 its greatest height when it is in the Lion ; and when 

 in Virgo it begins to fall by the same degrees 

 as it rose. It subsides entirely within its bauks, 

 according to the account given by Herodotus,* on thc 

 hundredth day, when the sun is in the Scales. The 

 view has been held that it is unlawful for kings or 

 rulers to sail on the Nile when it is rising. Its 

 degrees of increase are detected by means of wells 

 marked with a scale. An average rise is one of 

 24 feet. A smaller volume of water does not irrigate 

 all localities, and a larger oTie by retiring too 

 slowly retards agriculture ; and the Latter uses up 

 the time for sowing because of the moisture of the 

 soil, while the former gives no time for sowing 

 because the soil is parched. The province takes 

 careful note of both extremes : in a rise of 18 feet 

 it senses famine, and even at one of 19| feet it 

 begins to feel hungry, but 21 feet brings cheerful- 

 ness, 22^ feet complete confidence and 24 feet 

 delight. The largest rise up to date was one of 

 27 feet in the principate of Claudius, and the smallest 41-6I a.d 

 7^ feet in the year of the war of Pharsahis, as if the 48b.o. 

 river were attempting to avert the murder of Pompey 

 by a sort of portent. When the rise comes to a 

 standstill, the floodgates are opened and irrigation 



263 



