"than the Nile (t)." The Egyptians are not the fole people who have deified rivers (u). The ancient Greeks and Indians granted them divine honours; but the Egyptian priests furpaffed them in pompous ceremonies. They even feemed only to adore Ofiris and Ifis because of their relation to the Nile, and influence over his waters. They first called him Yaro (x), which general denomination was long preferved; and, perhaps, there was no other in Homer's time, fince this geographical poet fimply calls it the river of Egypt. Having obferved, for ages, the phænomena of its increase, they bestowed the epithet Neilon (y). This characteristic expreffion, adopted by all nations, obliterated the ancient name. Hefiod employs it firft, whence we may conjecture he was pofterior to Homer. "Thetis

has produced great rivers from the ocean; the “Nile, the Alpheus, and the Eridanus (z).” (t) Plut. de Ifide et Ofiride.

(u) Maximus Tyrius.

(x)

Genefis, chap. 41. This word in the Coptie fignifies river. Jablon. Panth. Egypt. tom. II.

(y) Derived from the Egyptian Nei Alei, which increases at a certain season: hence the Greek Ne^; and the Latin Nilus. Jabloníki ubi. fup.

(z) Hefiod. Theogon.

The

different names.

The Ethiopians and Egyptians called it by "The river, which, in its long windings, waters the lands of Ethiopia, is called Siris; but the moment its azure ftream reaches Syene, it is then the Nile (a)."" The rivulets which form "this great river, gufh from the mountains lying on the eaft of Libya. The Ethio

pians name it Siris, and the people of Syene "the Nile (b)." The Egyptians thought they could not fufficiently difplay their gratitude for the river to which they owed their existence. The pompous titles of father (c), preferver of the country, and the terreftrial Ofiris, were given it: the gods were feigned to have been born on its banks (d), which must be understood allegorically; Nicopolis (e) was founded in its honour, and a stately temple erected to it there. From Herodotus we learn (f) that priefts were confecrated to

(a) Dionyf. Perieget.

(b) Prifcian-This is confirmed by Solinus and Pliny lib. 5.

(c) Plut. de Ifide et Offride.

(d) Diod. Sic. lib. 1.

() Vide Stephanum Byzantinum. (f) Lib. 2.

the Nile, in the cities; whofe principal occupation was to embalm bodies, killed by the crocodiles, or drowned in its waters. "There "was a temple, remarkably grand, in a town “of Egypt, where was a wooden statue, fa

mous for being adored by the people, and "carried by the impious priests from town to "town, in honour of the Nile (g).”— "The Nile gives fruitfulness to this country, "and the god is invited, with holy ceremo"nies, to a fplendid feast, annually prepared "for him, that he may overflow the land: "fhould the priests fail in obferving this cere

mony, at the proper time, he would cease "to fertilize the plains of Egypt" (b.)

The pricfts evidently imposed on vulgar credulity, and instituted a fuperftitious worfhip, the inefficacy of which they knew, that they might become mediators between heaven and earth, and the fuppofed difpenfers of plenty. The enigmatic theology they had framed, and which the hieroglyphics concealed from the people, admirably ferved their purpose, and they employed all their know

(g) Palladius. cap. 57.

(b) Libanius Orat. pro Templis.

ledge

ledge to render it refpectable; which obfervation is applicable to many nations.

The grand feftival of the Nile was at the Summer folftice, when the inundation begins. "This is the most folemn and celebrated fef"tival of the Egyptians, who pay their river "divine honours, and revere him as the first "of their deities, proclaiming him the rival of Heaven, fince, without the aid of clouds “and rain, he waters the lands (i).” The type of his increase was a Nilometer; which, when it began, the priests took, from the temple of Serapis, and bore, in pomp, through the towns, and cities. This is the wooden statue that excites the anger of Palladius. When the waters fell they replaced it in the fanctuary. They had, likewise, another emblem of the inundation, sculptured in stone, dedicated to the god of the Nile. Pliny, (k) fpeaking of the Bafaltes, fays, "The greatest known is that sent to the Temple of Peace, by the Emperor Vespasian; it "reprefents the Nile, with fixteen children. playing round him, intimating the number

66

(i) Heliodorus, Lib. 9.

(4) Lib. 36.

VOL. II.

"' of

C c

"of cubits to which his waters rife." Such, Sir, are the religious opinions of the ancient Egyptians, concerning the Nile; and fuch the feftivals fuperftition held in its honor, which are not yet wholly abolished: their memory is preserved in the pomp with which the canal of Grand Cairo is annually opened.

I have the honour to be, &c,

LETTER