THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 613) 
greateft pleafure of his life, never to be abandoned, but for. 
that fuperior gratification—the difcovery of the fountains: 
of the Nile. ' 
Acuonreus, proud of’ being reférred'to on fuch a fubjec 
by fuch.aiperfon, enters into a detail of information... 
Que tibi nofeendi Nilim,.Romane, cupido ft, 
Hec Phariis, Perfifque fuit, Macedumque tyrannis :° 
-  Nidlaque non atas voluit conferre futuris 
Notitiam: fed vincit ‘adbuc natura laténdiv. ~ Lucan 
NERO, as we. are told, fent two centurions in fearch of 
this river, and on their return they made their report in 
prefence of Seneca, who does not feem to have-greatly dif- 
tinguifhed- himfelf-by- his inquiries.. They reported, that 
after having gone a very long way, they came to a king of 
Ethiopia, who furnifhed them with ntceflaries and affiftance, 
and with his recommendations they arrived at fome other 
kingdoms next to thefe, and then came to immenfe lakes, 
the end of which: was unknown tothe natives, nor did any 
one ever hope to find it : this was all the fatisfaétion Nero 
procured, and it is probable thefe centurions went not far, 
but were difcouraged, and turned back: with a trumped-up 
ftory invented to cover their want of fpirit; for we know 
now that there:are no fuch lakes between Egypt and the 
fource of the Nile, but the lake Tzana, or Dembea, and while 
on the banks of this, they might have-feen the country be+ 
anes and on every fide of it*; but I rather think no fuch 
attempt: 
* Another reafon why I think this journey of the centurions is fidtitious is, that theyy 
fay the diftance between Syene and Mero€ is.660 miles, Plis, lib. 6. cap: 29... 
