CHAP. XIX.

Farther Description of the Nile-Egypt constituted a Granary by it-Arts and Sciences discovered or promoted by itSimplicity of the first Adepts in. Medicine -Hot Sands often pernicious, especially to Strangers--Diseases-Recent Investigation-Death of Dr. White-Reflections -Brief account of the Ancient History of Egypt-Gross Idolatry—Superior Honours paid to the Bull Apis-Death of One-Funeral Expences-General Mourning described-Anxiety to procure a Successor-Universal Joy at his DiscoveryInstallation-Death-Cambyses—-Golden Calf of the Israelites-Insufficiency of Light of Nature-Necessity of a Divine Revelation.

THE Nile not only nourished the soil and purified the air, but by means of many curious and extensive canals cut by the

ancient Egyptians, cities and villages were united and defended, commerce was carried on and extended, the riches of the Indies flowed into Egypt, and from hence it was distributed to other parts of Africa, Europe, Asia, &c.

The governors of Egypt had placed at Memphis, a scale on which the different increases of the inundation was marked, and from thence notice was given to all the rest of Egypt, the inhabitants of which knew by that means before hand, what they might promise themselves from the ensuing harvest; and from the earliest ages the overflowing of the Nile was always attended with an universal joy throughout the country, that being the fountain of their plentiful harvests. Other nations participated in the general blessing, as this country has been a public granary long before the rise of Rome, and supplied that vast city, as well as Byzantum, and many more modern, with grain.

The overflowing of the Nile led to seve ral arts and sciences of great utility. To adjust the property of their lands, they were obliged to have recourse to measuring and surveys, and this first taught them geometry; and as their country was level, and the air generally serene and unclouded, they were some of the first that observed the courses of the planets. Those observations. led them to regulate the year from the course of the sun.

It led also to natural philosophy, by which study they invented or improved the science of physic, which in those ages was easily comprehended; as soon as any sanative or medicinal herb was discovered, its success was registered and made public, that others might experience the same bene fit; the physicians were obliged to follow fixed rules, which were the observations of old and experienced practitioners, who generally confined their practice to the cure of one disease only; and the flags of this wonderful river became, by the order

of Divine Providence, a cradle to nurse the most eminent legislator, historian, and ruler, the world beheld, who was here preserved in the moment of danger, by the very daughter of the man who sought his life, and given by her to his own mother to nurse.. See the inimitable description of these events, in the second chapter of the book of Exodus, which book contains a most interesting history of the ancient Israelites.

The air and soil, varies much in proportion to its approximity to the Delta and the coast, and during three months of my stay it was intensely hot: in travelling the sands, which are frequently in hills, I have found the entrance into the vales as if going to the mouth of an oven, and when the sea breezes fail, there is danger to be apprehended from this intense heat, increased by the hot sands. One of our seamen being near the banks of the Nile, wearied and heavy, thoughtlessly falling into a sleep, quite exposed to the powerful rays of the summer's

sun, was so struck that he was brought on board and soon after expired.

At the dry and hot season diseases prevail. During the late events in Egypt, opportunities have been afforded, and men of science and benevolence have bent the whole force of their powers to investigate the nature, causes, and effects of the plague, their united efforts have reflected considerable light and information on this important subject; and remedies* have been applied, which if not a specific, have tended to stop its ravages, and often to a cure; and both French and English physicians, appear almost unanimous that the further prosecution of this interesting subject, will prove this terrible malady is not always contageoust,

The embrocation of oils has been found to check its progress, and mercury, in its early stages has had a happy effect. We had a Frenchman on board, who informed us, he was cured by cutting out the part affected; the scars were visible, and he said the incision in his leg was performed by himself.

† During the marches of the French, English and Turk