THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. p* 



The reafon of this If have already explained, it is fome 

 time or other to be a fubftitute to Mecca, and to be bleffed 

 with all that holinefs, that the poifeflion of the relicrues, o£ 

 their prophet can give it. 



Dr Shaw* having always in his mind the ftrengthening 

 of Herodotus's hypothefis, that Egypt is created by the Nile, fays, . 

 that perhaps this was once a Gape, becaufe Rafhid has 

 that meaning. But as Dr Shaw underflood Arabic perfectly 

 w r ell r he mult therefore have known, that Rafhid has no 

 fuch fignification in any of the Oriental Languages. Ras, 

 indeed, is a head land, or cape \ but Ralht has no fuch fig- 

 nification, and Rafhid a very different one, as I have al- 

 ready mentioned* 



Rashid then, or Rofetto, is a large, clean, neat town, or 

 village, upon the eaflern fide of the Nile. It is about three 

 miles long, much frequented, by ftudious and religious 

 Mahometans ; among thefe too are a coniiderable number of. 

 merchants, it being the entrepot between Cairo and Alex- 

 andria, and vice verfa ; here too the merchants have their 

 factors, who fuperintend and watch over the merchandife 

 which panes the Rcgaz to and from Cairo. 



There are many gardens, and much verdure, about' Ro- 

 fetto; the ground is low, and retains long the • moifture it 

 imbibes from' the overflowing of the Nile. Here alfo are 

 many curious plants -and flowers, brought from different, 

 countries, by Fakirs, and merchants. . Without this, Egypt, 



ftibjecl: 



* Shaxr 'g Travels, p. 294. 



