2§8' On Egypt and the Nile 



wrecked on the fhores of the Baliicl ; many B:'ahm*?is, indeed, afTerr, 

 that a great intercourfe anciently fubfifted between India and countries m 

 the weft j and, as far as I have ex mined th ir facred books, to which they 

 appeal as their evidence,- I frrong'y incl'Le to believe their affrtion. 



The Sanfnit books are, both in fize and number, very eonfiuerabl'e %■ 

 andi as the legends relating to Egypt lie difperfed in them without order 

 or connexion, I have fpared neither labour nor expcnfe to- collect them; 

 but, though I have in that way done much, yet much remains to. be- done*, 

 and mull: be left, I fear, toothers, who can better afford to make a col- 

 legion fo voluminous and expenfive : I had the happinefs to be Rationed 

 at Banares t the centre of Hindu learning; and, though my laborious duties 

 left me very little time for literary purfuits, yet my appointment fupplied 

 me with means to defray the necefTary charges, which h could not other- 

 wife have afforded. To the friendfliip of Mr. Duncan lam deeply in- 

 debted % his encouragement and fupporthad agnat effect on the Brabmens;: 

 nor mould I, without his •aiTiftance, have met with that fuccefs, which has 

 rewarded my labours. It will appear in the courfe of my effay, that I 

 have derived infinite advantage from the Travels of Mr. Bruce, t> which. 

 I fo frequently refer, that it was haidly poffible to cite them ccnftantly ; , 

 and I make this general acknowledgement of my obligation to Him t even 

 the Outline of the Map prefixed to this differtation is borrowed from his 

 elaborate Chart, Thofe, who may follow nit in this path, will add confi- 

 derably, no doubt, to the materials which L have amaffed, and may poffi-- 

 bly correct fome errors, into which I may have fallen : happy fhall I be to • 

 have led the way to difcoveries, from which very important concltilwns 

 may be deduced, . 



