THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 451 



a quantity of pure gold, independent of what came from 

 the top of the Arabic Gulf, which was now carried into 

 AiTvria, and circulated in the trade of his country. This 

 fupply of gold belonged properly and exclusively to Egypt; 

 and a very lucrative, though not very extenfive commerce, 

 was, by its means, carried on with India. He found out 

 that the people, pofTefling thefe treafures, were called Mac- 

 robil, which lignifies long livers; and that they poffefTed a coun- 

 try divided from him by lakes, mountains, and deferts. But 

 what Hill affected him moil was, that in his way were a mul- 

 titude of warlike Shepherds, with whom the reader is al- 

 ready fufficiently acquainted. 



Cambyses, to flatter, and make peace with them, fell fu- 

 rioufly upon all the gods and temples in Egypt ; he mur- 

 dered the facred ox, the apis, deftroyed Memphis, and all 

 the public buildings wherever he went. This was a grati- 

 fication to the Shepherds, being equally enemies to thofe 

 that worfhipped beafls, or lived in cities. After this intro- 

 duction, he concluded peace with them in the mod folemn 

 manner, each nation vowing eternal amity with the other. 

 Notwithftanding which, no fooner was he arrived at Thebes 

 (in Egypt) than he detached a large army to plunder the 

 Temple of Jupiter Ammon, the greateft object of the worfhi|> 

 of thefe Jhepherds ; which army utterly periihed without a 

 man remaining, covered, as I fuppofe, by the moving fands. 

 He then began his march again ft the Macrobii., keeping clofe 

 to the Nile. The country there being too high to receive 

 any benefit from the inundation of the river, produced no 

 corn, fo that part of his army died for want of provifion. 



3 L 2 Another 



