Histories

When the Nahr an- Nil [31.1,30.166] (river), AfricaNile is in flood, it overflows not only the Delta but also the lands called Libyan and Arabian, as far as two days' journey from either bank in places, and sometimes more than this, sometimes less. Concerning its nature, I could not learn anything either from the priests or from any others.

Yet I was anxious to learn from them why the Nahr an- Nil [31.1,30.166] (river), AfricaNile comes down with a rising flood for a hundred days from the summer solstice; and when this number of days is passed, sinks again with a diminishing stream, so that the river is low for the whole winter until the summer solstice again.

I was not able to get any information from any of the Egyptians regarding this, when I asked them what power the Nahr an- Nil [31.1,30.166] (river), AfricaNile has to be contrary in nature to all other rivers. I wished to know this, and asked; also, why no breezes blew from it as from every other river[*](Not from the river itself, perhaps; but there is a regular current of air blowing up the valley.).