410 plint's NATXJEAL HTSTOET. [Book V. 



CHAP. 10. — THE EITEE NILE. 



The sources of tlie Nile^ are unascertained, and, travelling 

 as it does for an immense distance through deserts and burn- 

 ing sands, it is only known to us by common report, having 

 neither experienced the vicissitudes of warfare, nor been 

 visited by those arms which have so effectually explored all 

 other regions. It rises, so far indeed as King Juba was 

 enabled to ascertain, in a mountain^ of Lower Mauritania, 

 not far from the ocean ; immediately after which it forms a 

 lake of standing water, which bears the name of Nilides^. 

 In this lake are found the several kinds of fish known by 

 the names of alabeta", coracinus, and silurus ; a crocodile 

 also was brought thence as a proof that this really is the 

 Nile, and was consecrated by Juba himself in the temple of 

 Isis at Caesarea*, where it may be seen at the present day. 

 In addition to these facts, it has been observed that the 

 waters of the Nile rise in the same proportion in which the 



subsequent distribution of a part of the overflow of the Nile. The sup- 

 position that it was formed by artificial means is now pretty generally 

 exploded, and it is regarded as of natural formation. It was situate in 

 the nome of Arsinoites or Crocodilopolites. Its length seems to be over- 

 stated by our author, as at the present day it is only thirty miles in 

 length and five in breadth at the widest part. 



^ And it is generally supposed that they are so up to the present day. 

 The ethnographer Jablonski is of opinion that this river derives its name 

 from the Coptish word tneialei " to rise at stated times." Servius, the 

 commentator on Virgil, says that it is derived from the two Greek words 

 vea I'Xiis "fresh mud," in allusion to the fresh mud or slime which it 

 leaves after each inundation. Singularly enough, ChampoUion prefers 

 this silly etymology to that suggested by Jablonski. 



3 An interesting disquisition on the probable sources of the Nile, as 

 viewed by the ancients, is to be foxmd in the Ninth Book of Lucan's 

 Pharsalia. The Indian word " nilas" " black," has also been suggested 

 as its possible origin. 



3 What spot is meant under this name, if indeed it is anything more 

 than the creation of fancy, it is impossible to ascertain with any degree 

 of precision. It is possible however that the ancients may have had 

 some knowledge of Xake Tchad, and the Mountains of the Moon, or 

 Djebel-Kumri, though at the same time it is more than doubtful that 

 the Nile has its source in either of those localities, the former especially. 



^ Perhaps a kind of river lamprey. As to the Coracinus, see B. ix. 

 c. 24, 32, and B. xxxii. c. 19, 24, 34, 44, and 53 ; and as to tke Silurus, 

 B. ix. c. 17, 25, and B. xxxii. c. 31, 36, 40, 43, 44, &c. 



* The modem Vacur in Northern Africa. 



