THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 4 i 9 



top to the bottom, and thefe are filled with hieroglyphics 

 in the laft ftage, before they took the entire refemblance 

 of letters. Many are perfectly formed ; the Crux Anfata 

 appears in one of the compartments, and Tot in another. 

 Upon the edge, juil above where it is broken, is 1 1 19, fo fair 

 and perfect in form, that it might ferve as an example of 

 caligraphy, even in the prefent times ; 45 and 1 9, and fome 

 other arithmetical figures, are found up and down among 

 the hieroglyphics. 



This I fuppofe was what formerly the Egyptians called 

 ;a book, or almanack ; a collection of thefe was probably 

 hung up in fome confpicuous place, to inform the public of 

 the Hate of the heavens, and feafons, and difeafes, to be ex- 

 pected in the courfe of them, as is the cafe in the Englifli al- 

 manacks at this day. Hermes is faid to have compofed 

 36,535 books, probably of this fort, or they might contain 

 the correfpondent aftronomical obfervations made in a cer- 

 tain time at Meroe, Ophir, Axurn, or Thebes, communicated 

 to be hung up for the ufe of the neighbouring cities. Por- 

 phyry * gives a particular account of the Egyptian alma- 

 nacks. " What is comprifed in the Egyptian almanacks, fays 

 he, contains but a fmall part of the Hermaic inflitutions ; all 

 that relates to the rifing and fetting of the moon and pla- 

 nets, and of the ftars and their influence, and alio fome ad- 

 vice upon difeafes." 



It is very remarkable, that, befides my Tot here defcrib- 

 ed, there are five or fix, precifely the fame in all rcfpects, al- 



3 G 2 ready 



* PorpyWy Epift. ad Antbonem. 



