Cities, Towns and Villages stand on the Borders of this River; there are
also many Canals and deep Ponds which have been caus’d to be cut at
convenient Distances, by the Care and Magnificence of their Kings, for
the Refreshment and Use of the People, who indeed need no other Drink.
The Waters of this River are of such excellent Taste and Virtue, that
when _Pescennius Niger_ heard his Souldiers murmur for want of Wine, he
thus reply’d, _What! crave ye Wine and yet have_ Nile _to drink of?_ The
first Kings of _Egypt_ made such account of them, that they almost drank
nothing else; and when _Ptolomy Philadelphus_ marry’d his Daughter
_Berenice_ to _Antiochus Theos_, King of _Assyria_, he gave orders that
from Time to Time the Waters of _Nile_ should be carry’d her, that she
might drink no other Liquor. And indeed all Authors agree these Waters
are sweet, healthful and nourishing, and that they keep a long Time
without corrupting, for being left to settle but a small Season, they
become clean, clear, and so sweet and pleasant, that they excel all
others for smoothness and flavour. _Gabriel Sionata_ in his Tract _De
Moribus Orientalium_, p. 27. observes, That the Waters of _Nile_, being
only kept in Pans three Days, and during that Time expos’d to the heat
of the Sun, turn to a pure white Salt; so that the Land of _Egypt_ has
an inexhaustible supply of that which is so needful for the Life of Man,
and that at small Expence. Moreover, whatever is here valuable proceeds
from the Munificence of this River, whose Annual overflow is the only
Cause of that wonderful Fertility of the Soil of this Country, which is
so great that it is rather to be admir’d than describ’d.
[Sidenote: Fertility of _Egypt_.]
In Times past it was reputed the Granary of the whole World, insomuch,
that it was not thought possible for the _Roman_ Empire to subsist
without its affluence. Also, after _Selimus_ Emperor of the _Turks_ had
conquer’d this Country, he was heard to say, That now he had taken a
Farm would plentifully feed his _Jemoglans_. Monsieur _Thevenot_ says,
_Egypt_ may well be stil’d an Earthly Paradise; for so great is its
increase, that in many Places they reap two considerable Crops a Year;
Hay they mow four Times, and as for Pease, Beans, and other Garden-Ware,
those grow spontaneously all the Year round. All kinds of Fruit are
exceeding plentiful, Grapes only excepted, which it may be Nature keeps
back as thinking the Natives of _Egypt_ can want no Wine, since they
have so good Water. In a Word, _Lucan_ thus characterizes this Country:
_Terra suis contenta Bonis, non indiga Mercis
Aut_ Jovis, _in Solo tanta est fiducia_ Nilo.
A Land that needs nor Trade nor Rain, a Soil
Pleas’d in it self as confident in _Nile_.
[Sidenote: The _Red Sea_.]
Next we shall speak of the _Red Sea_, as having been so very Famous,
both for the miraculous Passage of the _Israelites_ as upon dry Land,
and the drowning of _Pharaoh Cenchres_, and all his Followers, as
likewise for that thro’ it the Spices of _India_ and _Arabia_ were first
brought to _Alexandria_, and thence dispers’d by the _Venetians_
throughout all _Europe_, _Africa_ and _America_, as _Heylin_, p. 852.
testifies. The _Turks_ call this Sea the _Gulf_ of _Mecca_, and the
Ancients nam’d it the _Arabian Gulf_ or _Red Sea_, the reason of which
last, see in Sir _Thomas Brown_’s _Vulgar Errors_, p. 261 and 262. who
also tells us several Princes have attempted to cut thro’ the _Isthmus_,
or narrow Tract of Land, that parts the _Arabian_ and _Mediterranean
Seas_, but whose intent was not immediately to unite those Waters, but
to make a Navigable Channel betwixt the former and the _Nile_, the Marks
whereof remain to this Day. This was first attempted by _Sesostris_ King
of _Egypt_, and afterwards by _Darius_ King of _Persia_, but, for fear
of drowning the Country, at length relinquish’d by them both; yet the
same Thing was long after re-attempted, and in some measure effected by
_Ptolomy Philadelphus_. Now the _Grand Signior_, who is Lord of all this
Country, conveys his Gallies into the _Red Sea_ by the _Nile_; for
bringing them down to _Grand Cairo_, they are there taken to pieces,
carry’d upon Camels Backs, and afterwards put together again at _Sues_,
his Port and Naval Station for that Sea, whereby he in effect puts the
Design of _Cleopatra_ in execution, who after the Battle at _Actium_, in
a different manner, would have convey’d her Gallies into the _Red Sea_.
Here, as the same Author affirms, Coral grows in great abundance.
[Sidenote: The _Lake_ of _Mœris_.]
As concerning the Lakes of _Egypt_, that of King _Mœris_ is not only the
most admirable, but likewise the largest of all, denominated after his
own Name, as is testify’d by _Herodotus_, _Diodorus Siculus_ and
_Pliny_; a Work the most useful and wonderful, says _Greaves_ in his
_Pyramidographia_, p. 11. if rightly consider’d, that ever was attempted
by Man. In the midst of this Lake that King erected two _Pyramids_, one
in Memory of himself, and the other of his Wife, each being 600 Feet in
height. The Description of both these and of this Lake we have in
_Herodotus_; the latter we find also in _Strabo_, but no where so fully
as in _Diodorus Siculus_, Lib. 1. therefore I shall relate his Words:
_Ten Schænes_ (600 Furlongs, tho’ _Strabo_ and _Artemidorus_ before him
observe a difference of _Schænes_ in _Egypt_) _above the City_ Memphis,
Mœris _dug a Lake of admirable Use, the Greatness of which is
incredible, the Circumference of it being said to be 3600 Furlongs, and
the Depth in many Places 50 Fathom (200 Cubits or 300 Feet.) Now who
that shall seriously consider the vastness of this Work, can forbear
asking how many Myriads of Men were employ’d on it, and in how many
Years they accomplish’d it? The common Benefit of this Undertaking to
those that inhabit_ Egypt, _as also the Wisdom of its Royal Contriver,
no Man can sufficiently admire; for since the increase of_ Nile _is not
always the same, and that the Country is ever made more Fertile by its
moderate Rise, this King contriv’d a Lake to receive the superfluity of
the Water, that neither the greatness of the Inundation unseasonably
drowning the Country, might occasion Marshes or Lakes, nor the Rivers
flowing less than required, corrupt the Fruits for want of Water. This
Prince therefore caus’d a Ditch to be cut from the River_ Nile _to this
Lake, 80 Furlongs long and 300 Feet broad, by which, sometimes receiving
in, and sometimes letting out the Water, he exhibited a seasonable
quantity thereof to the Husbandmen, the mouth of this Ditch being
sometimes open’d and sometimes shut, yet both not without much Art and
great Expence, for he that would either open the_ Sluces _or shut them,
was under a necessity of expending at least 50 Talents. This Lake, thus
benefiting the_ Egyptians, _has continu’d even to our Times, and from
its Author is at this Day call’d_, The Lake of _Mœris. He left a dry
place in the midst, on which he built a_ Sepulcher _and two_ Pyramids,
_each a Furlong high; one of these he made for himself, and the other
for his Wife, placing on each a Marble Statue sitting on a Throne,
imagining that by these Works he should transmit to Posterity an
indelible Remembrance of his Worth. The Revenue arising from the Fish of
this Lake he gave to his Wife for her Unguents and other Ornaments,
which is said to have been not less worth to her than a Talent a Day;
for according to common report there are 22 sorts of Fish in it, which
are taken in such huge quantities, that those who are perpetually
employ’d in salting them, of which there is a very large number, can
hardly dispatch the Work._ Thus far _Diodorus Siculus_, whose
Description of this Lake, as it is much fuller than that of _Herodotus_,
so _Herodotus_, Lib. 2. has this memorable Observation which _Diodorus_
omitted. _He says this Lake was made by Hand, as is apparent, because
almost in the midst of it there stand two_ Pyramids, _50 Fathoms above
Water and as many under: On each of these there is a_ Colossus _of
Stone, sitting on a Throne; so that by this means, these_ Pyramids _must
in all be 100 Fathoms high_. _Strabo_ likewise, _Lib._ 17. says, _This
Lake is wonderful, being like a Sea both for largeness and Colour_.
[Sidenote: The _Dead Sea_ or _Lake Asphaltites_.]
But now I am speaking of Seas and Lakes I will mention one more, which
tho’ not in _Egypt_ but in _Palestine_, is not yet above 2 _Italian_
Miles off _Damiata_, as _Le Bruyn_, p. 138. assures us. This Lake is
very beneficial as well to the _Holy Land_, in that it plentifully
furnishes that Country with Salt, as to _Egypt_, by reason of its large
store of Bituminous Matter, of great use in _Embalming_: By some it is
call’d _Mare Mortuum_, and by others the _Lake Asphaltites_. The Name of
this Sea is suppos’d to have been given it from its largeness and
saltness, being 70 Miles long and 16 broad, and so extream salt, that
its Water burns like Fire when tasted, and boils up weighty Bodies,
insomuch that whatever living Creature is thrown into it, sinks not
easily. It is call’d the _Dead Sea_, perhaps from its heavy Waters
hardly to be mov’d by the Winds, or else because it has no visible
efflux into the Ocean, nor is at all increas’d by the River _Jordan_,
and many other Waters that flow into it, or _Thirdly_, In that no living
Creature can breath in it, but is on the contrary suffocated by its
Bituminous Steams, the great abundance whereof also occasions it to be
call’d _Lacus Asphaltites_. Now of this _Asphaltum_ or _Bitumen_ there
are several Camel-Loads taken out of it Dayly, as _Thevenot_ assures us,
which raise a very great Revenue. _Diodorus Siculus_ moreover tells us,
there rise such large pieces of _Bitumen_ out of the midst this Lake, as
are 2 or 300 Feet square; the greater sort the Inhabitants term Bulls,
and the lesser Calves, which, swimming on the surface of the Water,
appear at a distance like so many Islands. The Time of the Lakes
throwing up this _Bitumen_, which is Yearly, may be perceiv’d above 20
Days before it comes; for everywhere round, for many Furlongs, a Steam
arises with great stench, which changes the natural Colour of all Gold,
Silver or Brass near it, till it be again exhal’d; and inasmuch as all
adjoyning Parts are thus corrupted with the heat and stench of this
Lake, the Inhabitants are commonly infected with Diseases, and their
Lives thereby shortn’d. This was once a fruitful Valley, compar’d for
delightfulness with Paradise, and call’d _Pentapolis_ from its five
Cities; but which being destroy’d by Fire from Heaven, it was thereupon
converted into this filthy Lake and barren Desolation which surrounds
it, a fearful Monument of Divine Wrath, for the Wickedness of _Sodom_
and _Gomorrha_, two of these five Cities, from the former of which it is
also call’d the _Lake_ of _Sodom_. But I make mention of this Lake
chiefly for the sake of its _Asphaltum_, so much us’d in the
_Embalmings_ of the _Egyptians_, and not that its stench can any ways
incommode or prove unhealthful to _Egypt_; for that Country has neither
Seas Lakes nor Rivers less prejudicial or more beneficial than the
_Nile_, a River sufficient of it self to water the Country, fertilize
its Soil, and thereby render its Inhabitants both chearful and healthy.
[Sidenote: Climate of _Egypt_.]
Another Thing to be consider’d, as very useful in the _Natural History_
of _Embalming_, is the Climate of _Egypt_, whether hot or cold, dry or
moist, or compriz’d under other general Heads, such as those of the
_Heavens_, _Air_, _Water_, _Earth_, _Winds_, _Seasons_, &c. which
Qualities, as they are in great measure occasion’d by the _Nile_, so are
they also best explain’d by setting forth those of that River, with
their Effects; for _Egypt_ by reason of its Southerly Situation is very
hot, and during the whole Summer almost insupportable, which being
farther increas’d by the reflexion of the Sun on its sandy Soil, renders
the Air so exceedingly warm that one can hardly breath in it, which is
indeed one of the greatest Inconveniencies _Egypt_ lies under. This heat
unavoidably dries up all the Rivers for near six Months together, so
that the People must of necessity die with Famine, did not the _Nile_
overflow and fill up their empty Channels, thereby relieving them,
thirsty as their Soil. Now the Property of this River is the more
remarkable, in that it differs from those of all others, which are only
full in Winter; whereas, on the contrary, this overflows in Summer, when
there is most occasion for it, as if purposely design’d by Providence to
save a famish’d and scorch’d Country. Moreover this is worth taking
notice of, that the Soil of _Egypt_ being naturally Sandy and Steril,
and withal very dry and scorch’d, is by means of the overflowing of
_Nile_ sufficiently water’d, and by the fat Mud it leaves behind made
very Fertile and fit for Tillage.
[Sidenote: The _Air_ very hot.]
The Air also of this Country, especially about _Cairo_, and farther
towards the _South_, because so near the Line, is extream hot, for
there, says _Ogilby_ in his Description of _Egypt_, p. 115. the Sun
casts its Beams perpendicularly from _Cancer_, during which Time of
violent Heat the People are wont to dwell in Caverns; nay in _Cairo_, in
the midst of every House, there are Wells with Water in them, which not
only cool the Mansions but refresh their Inhabitants: They have likewise
contriv’d large Pipes or Funnels in the midst of their Houses, which
standing right up into the Air, with broad Mouths like Bells, and lying
open to the _North_, receive the cool Air, which is thereby sent down
into the lowermost Rooms. For shade also in the Streets, every Dwelling
has a broad Penthouse; and for further refreshment the Inhabitants use
Bathing, having curious Bagnio’s of fresh and clear Water from the River
_Nile_, without any mixture either of Herbs or medicinal Ingredients.
[Sidenote: Cool’d by the _Nile_ and Annual _Winds_.]
The Heat of this Country is moreover somewhat moderated by the
overflowing of _Nile_, and the continual blowing of cool Northerly
Winds, otherwise it would be so vehement, neither Man nor Beast could be
able to breath in it. In Winter the Air is _hot_ and _dry_, tho’
sometimes a little _cool_, yet generally extream hot, and more
prejudicial to the Head than any other part of the Body. _Sandys_ says,
p. 76. It is as hot with them in the depth of _Winter_, as with us in
the midst of _July_. The Air a Nights is cool, which after Sun-rising
becomes a little warm, at Noon very hot, but at Night returns to be cold
again, so that its inequality breeds many Diseases; nevertheless, in as
much as it is exceeding Serene, being constantly free both from Rain,
Clouds, Mists, Fogs, Hail, Snow, _&c._ which rarely happen, it is
accounted very healthful; and in this Sense we must take _Herodotus_
Lib. 2. where he says, _The_ Egyptians _are the Healthiest People of the
World, by reason of the immutability of their Air_. But that it Rains,
Hails and Snows sometimes in that Country, tho’ many of the Ancients
deny it, is plainly confirm’d by several modern Writers, wherefore Sir
_Thomas Brown_ places that assertion among his Vulgar Errors, and _p._
260 thus confutes it. _’Tis confirm’d_, says he, _by many, and believ’d
by most, that it never Rains in_ Egypt, _the River_ Nile _plentifully
supplying that Defect, and bountifully requiting it by its Inundation;
yet this must be understood in a qualify’d Sense, that is, that it Rains
there but seldom in Summer, and very rarely in Winter_. [Sidenote: Rain
in _Egypt_.] But that great Showers do sometimes fall on this Region,
besides the Assertion of many Writers, is confirm’d by the Honourable
and Occular Testimony of Sir _William Paston_, Bar^{t.} who affirms,
That not many Years since it rain’d in _Grand Cairo_ for divers Days
together. The same is likewise attested as to other parts of _Egypt_ by
_Prosper Alpinus_, who liv’d long in that Country, and has left us an
accurate Treatise of the Medicinal Practice there: _Cairi, raro decidunt
Pluviæ, Alexandriæ, Pelusiiq; & in omnibus Locis Mari adjacentibus,
pluit largissime & sæpe_. That is, _It Rains seldom at_ Cairo, _but at_
Alexandria, Damiata, _and other Places near the Sea, very often and
plentifully_. The same likewise is to be inferr’d from this Author
concerning Snow, _Rarissime Nix, Grando_, &c. _It seldom either Snows or
Hails, wherefore we cannot deny Snow or Hail never to fall because they
happen but seldom._ The rarity of them however may be the occasion of
that Saying of _Horace_, Lib, 3. Ode 26.
_Memphim carentem Scythonia Nive._
Scorch’d _Memphis_ knows no _Scythian_ Snows.
To all this may be added the Testimony of the Learn’d Mr. _Greaves_,
whose Words, as you may find them, _p._ 74, 75. of his accurate
Description of the _Pyramids_, I will here insert, by reason they not
only prove these Rains, but likewise impart some curious Observations on
the Air of _Egypt_ and _Nile_. _I cannot_, says he, _sufficiently wonder
at the Ancients who generally deny’d the fall of Rains in_ Egypt.
_Plato_ in his _Timæus_ speaking of this Country, where he had liv’d
many Years, writes thus, Κατὰ δὲ τὴν δὲ τὴν χώραν οὔτε τότε, οὔτε
ἄλλοτε, ἄνωθεν ἐπὶ τὰς ἀρούρας ὕδωρ ἐπιῤῥεῖ. _i. e._ But in that Country
no Rain falls on the Ground at any Time. _Pomponius Mela_ in express
Terms relates, _That_ Egypt _is_ Terra expers Imbrium, miré tamen
fertilis; _whereas for two Months_, viz. December _and_ January, _I have
not known it Rain so constantly, and with so great impetuosity at_
London, _as I found it to do at_ Alexandria, _the Winds continuing_ N.
N. W. _which caus’d me to keep a Diary, as well of the Weather as of my
Observations in Astronomy, and that not only there, but also at_ Grand
Cairo. _My very noble and worthy Friend, Sir_ William Paston, _observ’d
at the same Time that there fell much Rain; so likewise about the end
of_ March _following, being at the_ Mummies _somewhat beyond the_
Pyramids _towards the_ South, _there fell a gentle shower of Rain for
almost an whole Day together: But it may be the Ancients meant the upper
part of_ Egypt, _beyond_ Thebes, _about_ Siene, _and near the_ Catadupæ
_or_ Cataracts _of_ Nile _and not the lower Parts; for there indeed I
have been told by the_ Egyptians _it seldom Rains, wherefore_ Seneca
_Lib._ 4. Natur. Quæst. _may have written true, where he says_,
[Sidenote: Snow in _Egypt_] In ea parte quæ in Æthiopiam vergit,
_speaking of_ Egypt, aut nulli Imbres sunt aut rari. _But where he
says_, Alexandriæ Nives non cadunt, _’tis false; for at my being there
in_ January _it snow’d one whole Night. However, farther towards the_
South _than_ Egypt, _between the_ Tropicks, _and near the_ Line, _in the
Country of_ Abyssinia _or_ Æthiopia, _there falls every Year, for many
Weeks together, store of Rain, as the_ Abyssins _themselves have related
at_ Grand Cairo, _which may likewise be confirm’d by_ Josephus Acosta,
_Lib._ 1. De naturâ Orbis novi, _where he observes, that in_ Peru _and
some other Places, lying in the same Paralel with_ Æthiopia, _they have
abundance of Rain. [Sidenote: Cause of the Inundation of _Nile_.] This
then is the true Cause of the Inundation of_ Nile _in the Summer-Time,
it being then highest when other Rivers are lowest, and not those which
are alledg’d by_ Herodotus, Diodorus Siculus, Plutarch, Aristides,
Heliodorus _and others, who are all extreamly troubl’d to give a Reason
for the Inundation of this River, imputing it either to the peculiar
Nature of its Water, the obstruction of it by the_ Etesiæ, _or else to
the melting of the Snows in_ Æthiopia, _which however I verily believe
rarely fall in those hot Countries, where the Natives, by reason of the
extream Heats, are all Black, and where, if we credit_ Seneca, Argentum
replumbatur, _Silver is melted by the scorching Climate, or in a word,
to some other such like Reasons of small weight. In_ Diodorus Siculus _I
find_ Agatharcides Cnidius _giving almost the same Reason I have done,
whose Assertion however those Times gave but little credit to, yet does_
Diodorus _seem to agree with it in these words_, Lib. 1. _Agatharcides
Cnidius_ has come nearest the Truth, he affirming that every Year, in
the Mountains about _Æthiopia_, there are continual Rains from the
Summer Solstice to the Autumnal Equinox, which cause this Inundation of
_Nile_. _The Time of this is so certain, that I have known the_ Egyptian
_Astronomers put down many Years before in their_ Ephemerides, That such
a Day of such a Month the _Nile_ will begin to rise. Thus far _Greaves_,
to which I may add an Experiment of the Lord _Bacon_’s concerning the
scarcity of Rain in _Egypt_. [Sidenote: An _Experiment_ concerning the
scarcity of _Rain_ in _Egypt_.] _’Tis strange_, says he, _p._ 161. _of
his_ Natural History, _the River_ Nile _overflowing as it does the
Country of_ Egypt, _there should nevertheless be little or no Rain known
in that Country. The Cause must lye either in the Nature of the_ Water,
_the_ Air, _or of both. As for the_ Water, _it may_, First, _be ascrib’d
to its long Course; for swift running Waters vapour less than those that
are standing, as those that have been sometimes boyling on the Fire, do
not cast so great a steam as they did at first: Now ’tis certain the
Waters of_ Nile _are sweeter than others in taste, and excellent good
against the_ Stone _and_ Hypocondriacal Melancholy, _which shews they
are_ Lenifying. Secondly, _The Reason of this Inundation may be, that
these Waters running thro’ a Country of a hot_ Climate _and flat,
without shade either from Woods or Hills, the_ Sun _must thereby
necessarily have greater power to concoct them. As for the_ Air, _whence
I conceive this want of Showers chiefly comes, the Cause must be, that
the_ Air _of it self is thin and thirsty, and therefore so soon as ever
it gets any moisture from the_ Water, _it imbibes and disperses it
throughout its whole Body, not suffering it to remain in a_ Vapour
_whereby it might breed_ Rain. Now tho’ it is not to be deny’d that
Rains fall sometimes in _Egypt_, yet this may however be averr’d, that
they happen but seldom, therefore the Air must consequently be more
settl’d than ours and freer from Vapours, Fogs, or the like, which
renders it not only healthful, but very beneficial in preserving and
_Embalming_ Bodies, they being by nothing so much damnify’d as by
uncertain Weather, [Sidenote: Moist _Air_ prejudicial to _Embalming_.]
of which we have too sad Experience in this our moist Climate. We are
therefore forc’d to supply the want of this, either by a total exclusion
of the Air by _Air-Pumps_, by immerging our dead Bodies into Spirituous
or Balsamic Liquors, or else by driving away all Damps and Moistures by
moderate Fires. This every one knows who has been us’d either to
Confectionery, preserving natural Curiosities, or the like, to whom the
giving, relaxing or molding Things, serves as a _Thermometer_ whereby to
distinguish the several changes and varieties of the Weather.