Consequence of it will not prove a little advantageous to the Reader,
besides, like the Interlude of a Tragedy, may somewhat divert the
Melancholiness of our _Discourse about the Dead_. But before I proceed
to particulars, I shall speak somewhat of _Egypt_ in general, [Sidenote:
_Egypt_, how scituate and bounded.] which the antient Geographers plac’d
partly in _Africa_ and partly in _Asia_, making the River _Nile_ the
Boundary between those two great parts of the World; but _Egypt_,
according to the most common receiv’d Opinion, is at present held to be
all scituate in _Africa_, and bounded on the _East_ by _Idumæa_, and the
_Arabian Gulph_ or _Red Sea_, on the _West_ by the Desarts of _Barca_,
_Lybia_ and _Numidia_, on the _North_ by the _Egyptian Sea_, being part
of the _Mediterranean_, and on the _South_ by _Nubia_, the last City of
_Egypt_, that way being _Assuan_. [Sidenote: Its Denomination.] This
Country, says _Heylin_ in his Cosmography, _p._ 841. has had several
Names given it by prophane Authors, as, _First_, _Aeria_, from the
Serenity of its Air, which is seldom Cloudy. _Secondly_, _Potamia_, from
the propinquity of the Sea, which washes two sides of it. _Thirdly_,
_Ogygia_, from _Ogyges_, a suppos’d King thereof. _Fourthly_,
_Melampodus_, from the black colour of its Soil. _Fifthly_, _Osiria_,
from the God _Osiris_, here in high esteem. _Sixthly_, and lastly, it
was call’d _Ægyptus_, which in the end prevail’d over all the rest,
either from _Ægyptus_ Brother of _Danaus_, once King hereof (in the
Stories of this Nation better known by the Name of _Rameses_) or else
from _Ægyptus_, the old Name of the River _Nile_, whose annual
overflowings bringing Soil and Rubbish from the higher Countries, gave
occasion to some to believe it rais’d into firm Land, and gain’d out of
the Sea, who therefore call’d it _Nili Donum_, the Gift of _Nile_; yet
some there are who would have it call’d _Ægyptus_, from _Aiguphtus_,
deriv’d from _Aicoptus_, which signifies the Land or Country of
_Coptus_, that being suppos’d to have been antiently its chief City,
built by _Coptus_, whose Genealogy and Descent is thus describ’d by
Father _Vansleb_ in his Relation of _Egypt_, p. 3. Cham, says he, _one
of the three Sons of_ Noah, _had four Male Children_, Cus, Misraim, Fut
_and_ Canaan; Cus _was Father of the_ Abyssins, Misraim _of the_ Copties
_and_ Nubians, Fut _of the_ Africans, _and_ Canaan _of the_ Syrians _and
their Neighbours_. Misraim _after the Deluge, as_ Macrizi _an Arabian
Historian says, pitch’d upon_ Egypt, _made there his Abode, and left
that and the Country, as far as the farthest Part of_ Africa, _to his
Posterity: He had likewise four Sons_, Ischemun, Atrib, Sà _and_ Coptus,
_among whom he equally divided the Land of_ Egypt. Coptus _had all that
Tract of Land from_ Assuan _or_ Isvan _to the City of_ Coptus; Ischemun
_all the Country from that City to_ Menuf _or_ Memphis, Atrib _had the
heart and middle of_ Egypt; _now call’d_ Delta; _and_ Sà _all the
Continent, from the Province of_ Beheire _as far as_ Barbary: _They all
built Cities in their several Dominions, calling them after their own
Names. After the decease of their Father, the four Brothers were at
variance about the Soveraignty, neither of them caring to endure a
Partner; at length they resolv’d to end their Controversy by Battel,
which was to give the chief Command to the Victor._ [Sidenote: Govern’d
by _Coptus_.] Coptus _the youngest overcame the rest, and was
consequently acknowledg’d chief Lord by all. He chose the City of_ Menuf
_or_ Memphis, _where his Father liv’d, for his Residence: From this
first King all the Race of the_ Egyptians _have been since call’d_
Copties: _From him likewise the_ Greeks _gave the Name of_ Αἰγύπτος _to
the Land of_ Egypt, _by changing_ K. _into_ G. _which was allowable not
only in that Language, but also in the_ Arabian. _The_ Moors _and_
Copties, _natural Inhabitants of_ Egypt, _now call it_ Massr, _from_
Misraim, _eldest Son of_ Cham, _and Gran-Child of_ Noah, _who first laid
the Foundation of that Kingdom after the Deluge: From this_ Misraim
_the_ Turks _have also nam’d_ Egypt Missir, _which is very near the
Hebrew_ Misraim; _and the_ Jews _to this Day call it_ Eretz Misraim,
_the Country of_ Misraim. This may suffice as to its Denominations and
Etimology.
[Sidenote: Its _Extent_.]
_Nubiensis Geographia_ makes it to extend in length from _Assuan_ to the
_Mediterranean_, 25 Days Journey, which is about 655 English Miles, and
in breadth 8 Days Journey or 200 Miles; but _Sandys_ and _Vansleb_ agree
’tis from _North_ to _South_ only 560 Miles, the latter alledging it
scarce possible to declare its length precisely, by reason they are not
wont in that Country to measure by Miles or Leagues, but by Camels
Journeys only. As to its breadth, _Leo Africanus_ says, _p._ 296, it is
from _East_ to _West_ 50 Miles, being narrow towards the _South_, but
broader to the _North_ towards the _Mediterranean_. _Sandys_ likewise,
_p._ 72. says, That by reason of its being so contracted among barren
Mountains, it is in many Places hardly 4, in few above 8 Miles broad,
till not far above _Cairo_ it begins by degrees to enlarge it self, and
so continues even to the Sea, being between _Rosetta_ and _Damiata_,
which stand on the _West_ and _East_-Confines of that which is
overflow’d by the natural Course of the River, 140 Miles, and from
_Rosetta_ to _Alexandria_ 30.
[Sidenote: Antient and modern _Division_.]
Concerning the Division of this Country, the Ancients have taken
occasion to divide it first into high and low, and then into high,
middle and low; the higher they call’d _Thebais_, from a Place call’d
_Thebes_, at present _Saida_; the middle they nam’d _Septanomos_, from
the seven _Nomi_, Provostships or Governments it contain’d, at present
_Bechira_ or _Demesor_; the lower and more particular _Egypt_ they
call’d _Delta_, from its likeness to the Figure of the _Greek_ Letter Δ.
_Egypt_, according to _Sandys_, p. 85. is now divided into three Parts
or Provinces; that which lies _South_ of _Cairo_ is call’d _Sahid_, that
between _Cairo_, _Rosetta_ and _Alexandria_, _Errif_, that between
_Cairo_, _Damiata_ and _Tenese_, _Maremnia_, _Bechiria_: The _Pharaohs_
and _Egyptian_ Nobility resided in _Saida_, the _Ptolomies_ in _Errif_,
and the _Romans_ and _Greeks_ along the Sea-Coasts.
[Sidenote: The River _Nile_.]
I must now proceed to speak of the River _Nile_, which crossing great
part of _Æthiopia_, and then entring _Egypt_, runs the whole length of
that Kingdom, and after dividing and spreading it self into many
Branches, ends in the _Mediterranean Sea_. This River was thought by the
Ancients not to have its equal, and is still reputed one of the most
considerable of the World, having somewhat wonderful and peculiar to it
self, whether one considers its _Source_ or _Effects_. To this River
_Egypt_ ows its Fertility, and its Inhabitants the greatest of
Felicities, their Health and Fortunes, yet neither could their rich
Princes or wise Priests ever discover its _Source_ or _Origin_. ’Tis
this has baffl’d the greatest Philosophers, and withstood the Attempts
of all their Kings, _Roman_ Emperors, Sultans and other Potentates, who,
notwithstanding they endeavour’d it with vast Expenses, always prov’d
unsuccessful: Thus _Sesostris_, _Ptolemy_ and _Cyrus_ sought for it in
vain; _Alexander_ the Great consulted the Oracle of _Jupiter Ammon_ in
order to find it out, and _Cambyses_, as _Strabo_ witnesses, spent a
whole Year to the same purpose, yet both were disappointed: _Julius
Cæsar_ also, if we may believe _Lucan_, said, He would have given over
his pursuit of the Civil War, could he but have been sure to find out
this Secret, yet has its Spring-Head remain’d undiscover’d till of late
Years, when it was happily pitch’d upon by the _Portugueses_, which
makes me of the Opinion of _Le Bruyn_, That no Persons are more capable
of making these Searches and Discoveries than the _Roman Missionaries_;
for on one hand they make it their Duty and perpetual Employment to go
about everywhere gaining Proselites, and subjecting them to the See of
_Rome_, and on the other, under pretence of Devotion, and by virtue of
their poor and simple Habit, may easily penetrate the most remote
Countries, inaccessible to other Travellers by reason of the Dangers
that are to be met with. Now ’tis certain almost all those Missionaries,
especially the _Jesuites_, are most capable of making these Searches, by
reason of their insinuating and cunning Ways, so that making it their
Business, as they commonly do, they must be most likely to succeed
therein; ’tis therefore to their Care and Pains we are indebted for two
considerable Discoveries, of the Source and Rise of this River; the
first made by _Peter Pais_, and the second by Father _Telles_ a Jesuit,
which last being the shorter Account, yet no less Correct, I shall here
insert it as he has given it us in his History of _Æthiopia_, printed at
_Lisbon_.
[Sidenote: The Rise and Course of the River _Nile_.]
_In the Kingdom of_ Gojam, _about_ 12 _Degrees from the Equinoctial
towards the_ West, _and in the Province of_ Sacahala, _inhabited by the_
Agaus, _in a Field of no great extent, incompass’d by many high
Mountains, is a small Lake, over which one may cast a Stone, full of
Bushes and low Trees, whereof the Roots are so thick and intangl’d, that
in Summer one may pass over them dry shod. In the middle of this Lake
are two great and deep Fountains very near each other, whence issues out
a clear Water that runs under these Bushes and Shrubs, in two several
Channels. Towards the_ East, _and about the distance of a Musket-Shot,
they turn to the_ North. _About half a Mile from thence there appears a
great deal of Water, and a considerable River, into which run many other
Streams. About 15 Miles farther it receives another larger Water call’d_
Gema, _which looses then its Name. A little farther, turning towards
the_ East, _it receives two other considerable Streams call’d_ Kelti
_and_ Branti: _Near this Place is the first fall of the River; not much
farther running towards the_ East, _it enters the Lake of the_ Abyssins,
_nam’d_ Bahr Dembea, _or the Sea of_ Dembea. _When it has pass’d through
this Lake, without mingling with its Waters, it receives many other
great Rivers, and chiefly the River_ Tekeze _near_ Egypt. _So soon as_
Nile _is out of the Lake_ Dembea, _it turns to the_ South-East, _leaving
on the left the Kingdoms of_ Beg-amidr, Amhara _and_ Voleca; _afterwards
running towards the_ South, _it has on the_ South-East _the Kingdom of_
Sauva, _and then turning again to_ East-North-East, _has on the_ South,
Ganz, Gafata _and_ Bizamo, _passing through the Countries of_ Gonga
_and_ Gafre; _a little farther it passes by_ Fascalo, _then enters the
Country of_ Funch _or_ Nubia, _whence it runs into_ Egypt, _as Father_
Telles _affirms_. But how it is there distributed and divided, I shall
shew by and by, after I have mention’d two of its Principal _Cataracts_
or _Cascades_ of a surprizing Nature.
[Sidenote: Its _Cataracts_.]
One of these is at _Ilack_, in _Numidia_, and the other above _Siene_ in
_Egypt_, being 12 Days Journey from each other. _Ptolomy_ calls the most
Southern, the _Great Cataract_, and the other, which he places about
_Siene_, now _Assuan_, the _Lesser_. This falls about 50 foot, but the
other three times as high, which last rouling off the Rocks into a vast
Abyss, the Waters, says _Sandys_, p. 73. make such a roaring Noise, that
a Colony, planted there by the _Persians_, were made almost Deaf with
it, and glad to abandon their Habitations, tho’ otherwise plentifully
provided with all Necessaries of Life. The adjoyning People nevertheless
are of that incredible boldness, that daring to commit themselves in
little Boats (capable of holding only two, whereof the one Steers and
the other Rows) unto the raging Current, and impetuous Eddies, have been
seen to pass the Streights of the Rocks by little Channels, and at
length to rush down with the Stream, to the amazement of all Beholders,
who giving them up for lost, beheld them a while after as if shot out of
an Engin, far from the place of their Fall, rowing safely in the
asswaged Waters; but _Danet_ will not allow the Noise made by the
Cataracts, renders the neighbouring Inhabitants Deaf, tho’ the same may
be heard 3 Days Journey off, and the Waters which rush down appear like
Smoak, being forc’d with so great a violence, that they form a kind of
Arch, and leave so great a space between, that a Man may pass it without
being wet: There are also Seats cut under the Rocks, where Travellers
may rest themselves.
The other _Cascade_, as _Sandys_, p. 73. tells us, is a little above the
place where once stood the City _Elephantis_: There two pointed Rocks
nam’d _Crophi_ and _Mophi_, or the Veins of _Nilus_, lift up their
eminent Heads, making the lesser Cataract by falling down with a furious
Cascade into the upper _Egypt_; then running from _South_ to _North_
very leisurely, it divides its self into two navigable Branches. That
towards the _East_ runs into the Midland Sea near _Damiata_, heretofore
_Pelusium_, while the other inclining to the _West_, and formerly call’d
_Canopus_, falls into the self same Sea a little below _Rosetta_,
making, of the richest Portion of the Land of _Egypt_, a triangular
Island, call’d _Delta_, in that being thus inclos’d between these two
Branches and the Sea, it bears the form of that Letter. Two other
Branches there are which run between these, but poor in Water, besides
divers Channels cut by the Labour of Man, for better Conveyance during
the Time of Inundation.
[Sidenote: Its _Ostiaries_ or _Mouths_.]
_Herodotus_ and _Strabo_ reckon up seven Mouths of the _Nile_, but
_Egypt_ has been so much chang’d since their Time, that there is hardly
any appearance or remembrance of the seven Cities they mention.
_Ptolemy_, in his Geography, expresly gives the names of nine; but
surely most of them must have been stop’d up by the Sands, since at
present there are but three or four at most, as is affirm’d by _William_
Arch-Bishop of _Tyre_, in his IX. Book, _De Bell. Sac._ cap. 33. and by
_Le Bruyn_ in his Voyage to the _Levant_, p. 161. who went on purpose to
make such Discoveries. But this is however remarkable, that the fresh
Waters of the _Nile_, keeping themselves united in a Body, and falling
into the salt Water or Sea, change the Colour of the _Mediterranean_
farther than any part thereof can be seen from the Shore. [Sidenote: Its
_Inundation_.] Yet amongst all the Misteries of Nature, none is more
wonderful than the Overflowing of this River, nor any Thing more
Beneficial; since to this alone the Inhabitants owe not only their
Riches but their Health, the most malignant Diseases immediately ceasing
at the Approach of it, and Famine and Dearth are as quickly expell’d. It
brings a Mirth and Joy to those People, and of a meer Desart it was
before, for such is _Egypt_ unwater’d by the _Nile_, makes that Country
the most fruitful of any in the habitable World.
Now the Earth, which had been so long scorch’d by the violent heat of
the Sun, is plentifully refresh’d with abundant Waters, and the very
Cattel seem to rejoyce at the approaching verdant Season: Boats are
row’d where not long before Men trod, and the Waters fill up the dusty
Channels and long empty’d Cisterns, covering in many Places the whole
superficies of the Land, making it appear as a troubl’d Lake. Nor is
this an unpleasant sight to the Natives, who think the less they see of
their Country, the more their Comfort will be. During this Inundation
they keep their Beasts and Cattel on the tops of such little Hills, as
either the Providence of Nature, or Industry of Man has prepar’d, where
they abide, waiting patiently for the decrease of the Waters. On these
Hills also stand most of their Towns and Villages, appearing, in the
time of the Flood; like so many Islands, the People in the mean Time
holding Commerce and continual Traffick, by intercourse of Boats and
Shallops, in which they transport their marketable Commodities from one
Place to another.
[Sidenote: Time of its Increase.]
This Increase of Waters begins about the 16th or 17th of _June_, when
the _Nile_ swells above its Banks for the space of 40 Days, and in as
many more gathers its Waters again to their proper Bounds; so that its
greatest height is about the end of _July_, and decrease about the
beginning of _September_. If it begins sooner or later, the People give
Judgment whether there will be more or less Water, and consequently are
advertis’d to the end they may take Order for what they have to do. The
Increase is known by certain Pillars in their Towns, and particularly in
the Castle of _Roude_, which stands in a little Isle opposite to old
_Cairo_, where the _Bassa_ resides, during the Solemnity of opening the
_Khalis_ or Channel, which passes thro’ and fills the Cisterns of _Grand
Cairo_. It is also known in the Fields by _Asps_, _Tortoises_,
_Crawfish_, _Crocodiles_, &c. who remove their Eggs or Young from the
Banks of the _Nile_, immediately before the Inundation, and lay them up
where they may be preserv’d.
[Sidenote: Its Effects.]
Now answerable to the Increase of this River is the Plenty or Scarcity
of the succeeding Year. _Heylin_ in his Cosmography writes, If it flow
not to the height of 15 Cubits, then the Earth will be deficient in her
Abundance or Increase for want of Moisture; and if it surmount the
superficies of the Earth, more than 17 Cubits, then, like a drunken Man,
it cannot produce its natural Operation, having its Stomach cloy’d and
surcharg’d as it were with too much Liquor; but if a moderate flowing
happen, then can no Country boast of a like Fertility, the Flood
bringing with it both Earth and Water into a sandy and thirsty Soil,
which as well manures as moistens it with the Fat and pregnant Slime it
leaves behind, and, as I said before, produces both Riches and Health;
for the _Plague_, which here oftentimes miserably rages, upon the first
Day of the Flood instantly ceases, insomuch, that whereas 500 had died
at _Cairo_ the Day before, on the Day following there dies not one Man.
But if it at any Time happens that the River does not thus overflow the
Country, then is it commonly the fore-runner of a following Dearth.
Thus, when this River flows but to 16 Degrees, they fear a Famine, but
when it comes to 23, ’tis a sign of a good Year, whereas when ’tis too
high the Inundation is dangerous. _Thevenot_ says, If it rises but to 16
Foot, a Famine unavoidably follows for want of Water; and if it swells
to 24, there will be a Dearth, because the Seed-Time must be lost. There
are besides many other rare Properties belonging to this River, which to
relate would make my Digression too long, and my intent was only to
mention such Things as chiefly tend to a Natural History, among which,
those curious Observations made by Father _Vansleb_ are most to my
purpose, which therefore I shall insert as follows:
[Sidenote: Remarkable _Observations_ on the _Nile_.]
_This is remarkable of_ Nile, _says my Author, That it begins to
increase and decrease on a certain Day, and that when it first
increases, it grows green and afterwards appears red: The Day on which
it begins to increase is Yearly the_ 12th _of_ June, _according to the_
Copties _Account, or the_ 17th _according to Ours, when the Natives
observe the Feast of St._ Michael _the Arch-Angel, on which Feast the
Drops begin to fall: Now these Drops, according to the Opinion of the
Inhabitants, are Tokens of the Mercies and Blessings of GOD. They
believe GOD sends the Arch-Angel, St._ Michael, _on that Day to cause
the River to be Fruitful; this is the common sentiment the People have,
but the Learned say, these Drops are a kind of Dew, which falls towards
the last quarter of the Night, near the Morning, and causes the River to
be Fertile, Purifies the Air from all Infection of_ Camsin, _and gives
Strength and Virtue to whatever it falls upon_.
[Sidenote: _Cause_ of its _Fertility_.]
_These Drops are doubtless the sole Cause of the Fertility of the_ Nile;
_for as soon as the Dew is fallen, the Waters begin to corrupt and turn
of a greenish Colour: This Colour increases more and more till the River
appears as a Lake cover’d all over with Moss; this Colour is to be seen
not only in its great Channel, but also in all the Bounds and Branches
that come from it, the Cisterns only preserving their Water pure; some
Years this green Colour continues about 20 Days, and sometimes longer,
but never above 40. The_ Egyptians _call this Time_ il chadraviat, _for
then they suffer much, the Water being corrupt and unwholesome, and
because good Water is very scarce. These Drops or Dew purifie the Air,
for so soon as ever they begin to fall, the_ Plague _ceases to be
mortal, none die of it; the Air becomes wholesome, all Diseases are
disarm’d, and if any Person happens to be sick of it, he shall be sure
not to die. This Dew gives Life to every Thing, and when it falls on the
Wheat, causes it to continue many Years without Corruption or Worms, nay
makes it far more Nourishing than any Corn on which it has never come.
For this Reason the Natives never house the_ Grand Signiors _Corn till
this Dew be fallen, to the end it may keep the longer free from Worms_.
[Sidenote: Its _Increase_.]
_The Increase of this River proceeds from several Causes; the first and
chiefest of which, is the Fermentation caused therein by this Dew, which
falls precisely at the Time before-mention’d. The continual Rains of_
Æthiopia, _that come in_ July, August _and_ September, _which is the
Winter Quarter of this Country, together with the great Torrents of
Water that rush down from the Mountains, into the Rivers that flow into
the_ Nile, _may be look’d on as another Cause of its Increase; for I
cannot conceive the Fermentation can last 100 Days, and singly cause it
to increase so much as it is wont. The third Cause are the Westerly
Winds call’d_ Maestrals, _and by the_ Egyptians Maltem, _which begin
about 12 Days before the Dew comes, and continue about four Months
without Cessation; they blow directly into the_ Nile, _and hinder the
fresh Water from coming out, so that it returns back, which causes the
River to swell. So soon as the green Colour is gone, the River begins to
turn red and very muddy; ’tis then no doubt the Fermentation is past,
and the Waters of_ Æthiopia _are arriv’d in_ Egypt, _which are of that
Colour, by reason of the red Earth the furious Torrents from the
Mountains carry along with them; for ’tis not probable the Land of_
Egypt, _which is very black, should give that Tincture. In the Year_
1673, _at the beginning of_ July, _the Water began to turn red, which
continu’d to the end of_ December, _the Time the River ordinarily
returns to its usual bigness. The_ Egyptians _have an Art to make this
muddy Water as clear as Cristal; so soon as the Water-Bearers have
fill’d their Vessels, they rub them in the inside with a Paste made of
pounded Almonds, which in a short Time causes the Water to become very
clear. In such Places where this Paste is not to be had, they use
instead of it the Kernels of Apricocks, pounded after the same manner,
and some say the Flower of little Beans will have the same Effect._
[Sidenote: _Operation_ of its _Waters_.]
_The Waters of this River have several Operations, for_, First, _They
bring a Loosness on new Comers, in case the Parties drink them at their
first arrival, and it continues about eight Days_. Secondly, _They cause
an Itching in the Skin, which troubles those that drink them when the
River increases: This Itch is very small, appearing first about the
Arms, then on the Stomach, and afterwards spreading all over the Body,
which causes grievous Pain. This Itch comes not only on such as have
drunk of the River, but such as drink out of the Cisterns fill’d with
River-Water; it lasts about six Weeks._ Thirdly, _About the Months of_
June, July, August _and_ September _it turns into Sweat, but is not so
in any other Time of the Year_. Fourthly, _When this Water covers the
Earth, it fattens the Land with the Slime it leaves behind. Monsieur_
Thevenot _is mistaken in his Travels into the_ Levant, _where he says,
This Slime makes the Ground so fat, that if Sand were not mingl’d with
it, it would Rot and Choak whatever is put into it; and that in_ Egypt
_they take as much Pains to carry Sand upon their Land, as we do to lay
Dung. This is not generally so, for they never use Sand but for Melons,
Cucumbers, and such like Fruits, which grow best in sandy Grounds; they
never use it for other Fruits and Grains._ Thus far _Vansleb_.
[Sidenote: Their _Virtues_ and _Goodness_.]
_Sandys_, speaking in Commendation of these Waters, says, They procure
liberal Urine, curing Pains in the Kidnies, and are a most sovereign
Remedy against the _Hypocondriacus Affectus_, or Wind-Melancholy. They
are not unpleasantly cold, but of all others the most sweet and
wholsome, by reason of their being well concocted by the Sun, which at
all Times is, in some part or other, directly over them, and by the
length of their Course, running from _South_ to _North_, besides
_Ambages_ above 41 Degrees, so that from this River there ascend no
Vapours, the Humour being rarifi’d by so long a Progress, which tho’
exhal’d, assumes no visible Body, but undistinguishably mixes with the
pure Air, agreeing with the same in tenuity. _Thevenot_ speaks much to
the same purpose in his Travels to the _Levant_, fol. 245. where he
says, This Water is so wholsome, it never does any harm, tho’ drank to
never so great a degree, by reason it comes a great way over Land, to
wit, from _Æthiopia_, so that in so long a Course, thro’ so hot a
Country, the Sun has Time to correct and purifie it from all Crudities,
and indeed it is sweated out as fast as one drinks it.
[Sidenote: Used instead of _Drink_.]