on Rivers and Canals. 
6 177 
If is well known that it rains feldom in that country.,., 
and that the- Nile bv its regular inundations waters the 
land, by bringing down upon it the rains and melted 1'now 
from the high mountains of Abyffinia. herodotus 
and diodorus- siculus (h> have left us defcriptions of 
the immenfe labours of the inhabitants to govern and : 
multiply fo beneficent a river, the particulars whereof 
are too well known to be repeated in this place. By 
thefe means Egypt became the granary of the world for 
above two thoufand years, and reimburfed, with im» 
menfe advantage, the firft expences. 
RiociOLi 0) affures us, that the ancient Perfians did the 
fame thing with regard to the Euphrates, and for the fame 1 
end. He adds, moreover, Sic ubi Cyrus Gangem in Al~ 
veos 4 6 o difperjit) minora damna ex Gangis alhivionibus f 
campi perpejji funt\ but I am totally at a lefs to find upon’! 
what authority he grounds this laft aflertion, for I never- 
read that any gyrus penetrated as far into India as the- 
mouth of the Ganges , much lefs reigned fo long over/ 
that country as to perform the vaft work which- rig— 
gioli fpeaks of. 
( g ) In lib. 11. 
(h) Biblioth. 1 . IX. c. X. 
(i) Geogr. et Hydrogr. 1. VI. cap 0 xxix. p, 248.,. 24$* 
