296" On Egypt and the Nile 



The Mythology of the Hindus is often inconfiitent and contradictory; 

 and the fame tale is related in many different ways : their Phyfiology, 

 Ailronomy, and Hiflory are involved in allegories and enigmas, which 

 cannot but feem extravagant and ridiculous ; nor could any thing render 

 them fupportabie, but a belief that moil of them have a recondite meaning, 

 though many of them had, perhaps, np firmer bafis than the heated ima- 

 gination of deluded fanaticks, or of hypocrites interefled in the worfhip of 

 fome particular deity. Should a key to their eighteen Purdnas exift, it is 

 more than probable, that the wards of them would be too intricate, or too 

 fliff with the ruft of time, for any ufeful purpofe : yet, as a f.ear coincidence 

 between proper names and circuwjlances, could fcarce have been accidental, 

 fome light might naturally be expecled from the comparifon, which I 

 refolved to make., It is true, that an accurate knowledge of the old northern 

 and wefiern Mythology, of the Cop tick and o.her dialects now ufed in coun- 

 tries adjacent to the Ni/e, of tafiern languages, and, above all, of Soj/Jcrit 9 

 may be thought efTentially neceffary for a work of this nature 1 and unfor- 

 tunately, I poiTefs. few of thole advantages.: yet it will not, I hope, be 

 conhdered, as prefump:uous, if 1 pre lint the Afiatick fociety with the refuk 

 of my inquiries %_ deli ring them to believe,, that, when I feem. to make any 

 pofitive allcrtion, I only. declare my ov n humble opinion, but never mean 

 to write in a dogmatical flyle, or to intimate an idea, that my own con- 

 vi£Uon ftiould preclude in any degree the full exercife of their judgement. 



So finking, in my apprehension, is the fimilarity between feveral Hindu 

 legends,, and numerous 'pafiages in Greek authors concerning the Nile and 

 the couniries on its borders-, that, in ordei' to evir.ee their identity, or at 

 leaft their affinity, little more is requifne than barely to exhibit a compara- 

 tive view of them.. The. Hindus have no. ancient civil hiflory ; nor. had 





