360 On Egypt and the Nile 



object of their adoration -, for, though they confider the Sun and Earth as the 

 two grand agents in the fyflem of the univerfe, yet they know their recipro- 

 cal action to be greatly affected by the influence of the lunar orb according to 

 their feveral afpects, and feem even to have an idea of attraction through the 

 whole extent of nature. This fyflem was known to the ancient Egyptians; 

 for, according to Diodorus (a), their Vulcan, or elemental fire, was the 

 great and powerful deity, whofe influence contributed chiefly toward the ge- 

 neration and perfection of natural bodies ; while the Ocean, by which they 

 meant 'water in a collective fenfe, afforded the nutriment that was neceffarys 

 and the Earth was the vafe, or capacious receptacle, in which this grand 

 operation of nature was performed : hence Orpheus defcribed the Earth as the 

 univerfal Mother ; and this is the true meaning of the Sanfcrit word Amba* 

 Such is the fyflem of thofe Hindus, who admit an equal concurrence of the 

 two principles; but the declared followers of Vishnu profefs very different 

 opinions from thofe adopted by the votaries of Is war a : each feet alfo is fub- 

 divided according to the degree of influence, which fome of them allow to be 

 poffefled by that principle, which on the whole they depreciate j but the pure 

 VaiJJmavas are in truth the fame with the Tanijas, of whom we mail prefently 

 give a more particular account. 



This diverfity of opinion feems to have occafioned the general war, which 

 is often mentioned in the Purdnas, and was celebrated by the poets of the 

 Weft, as the balls of the Grecian Mythology : I mean that between the Gods, 

 led by Jupiter,, and the Giants, or Sons of the Earth » or, in other words, 

 between the followers of Is war a and the Yonijas, or men produced, as they 

 aiferted, by Prit'hivi, a power or form ofViSHNU ; for Nonnus expreflly 



(a) Diod. Sic. B. 1. 



