THE SOURCE OF THE NILE, 603 
ia CHAP, XII. 
Attempts of the Ancients to adifcover the Source of the Nile—No Difcovery 
made in latter Times—No Evidence of the Fefuits having arrived 
there—Kircher’s Account fabulous—Difcovery completely made by the 
— Author. | 
AR in antiquity as hiftory or tradition can lead us, far- 
FH ther ftill beyond the reach of either, (if we believe it 
was the firft fubjec&t of hieroglyphics) begins the inquiry 
into the origin, caufe of increafe, and courfe, of this fa- 
mous river. It is one of the few phenomena in natural 
hiftory that ancient philofophers employed themfelves in 
inveftigating, and people of all ranks feemed to have join- 
ed in the refearch with a degree of perfeverance very un- 
common; but ftill this difcovery, though often attempted 
under the moft favourable circumftances, has as conftantly 
_ mifcarried ; it has baffled the endeavours of all ages, and 
4G2 -at 
