654 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
CHAP. XVI 
* ; 
Various Names of this River—Ancient Opinion concerning the Caufe of its , 
_ Inundation—Real Manner by which it is effected—Remarkable Difpo- 
Sition of the Peninfula of Africa. : 
T is not to be wondered, that, in the long courfe the Nile 
makes from its fource to the fea, it fhould have acqui- 
'ed a different name in every territory, where a different lan- 
Suage was {poken; but there is one thing remarkable, that 
though the name in found and in letters is really different, 
yet the fignification is the fame, and has an obvious retep: 
ence to the dog-ftar. 
Amonc the Agow, a barbarous and idolatrous nation, it 
is called Gzeir, Geefa*, Seir; the firft of thefe names figni- 
fying God; it is alfo called Abba, or Ab, Father; and by 
many other terms which I cannot write in the language of 
that nation, whilft, with a fervent and unfeigned devotion, 
under 
————— 
* From a nation of Shangalla of that name, through which it-runs, after having pafled its 
fource, and taken its courfe into Nubia. 
