CHAP. I. [ 10] Of the rising and inundation of Nilus.
THALES thinketh that the anniversarie windes called Etcsiae blowing directly against Aegypt, cause the water of Nilus to swell, for that the sea being driven by these windes, entreth within the mouth of the said river, and hindereth it, that it cannot discharge it selfe free∣ly into the sea, but is repulsed backward.
EUTHYMENES of Marseils, supposeth that this river is filled with the water of the ocean, and the great sea lying without the continent, which he imagineth to be fresh and sweet.
ANAXAGORAS saith, that this hapneth by the snowe in Aethiopia, which melteth in sum∣mer, and is congealed and frozen in winter. [ 20]
DEMOCRITUS is of opinion, that it is long of the snowe in the north parts, which about the aestival solstice and returne of the sunne, being dissolved and dilated, breedeth vapors, and of them be engendred clouds, which being driven by the Etesian windes into Aethiopia and Aegypt toward the south, cause great and violent raines, wherewith both lakes, and the river also Nilus, be filled.
HERODOTUS the Historian writeth, that this river hath as much water from his sources and springs, in winter as in summer; but to us it seemeth lesse in winter, because the sunne being then neerer unto Aegypt, causeth the said water to evaporate.
EPHORUS the Historiographer reporteth, that all Aegypt doth resolve and runne at it were wholly into swet in summer time: whereunto Arabia and Libya doe conferre, and contribute [ 30] also their waters, for that the earth there is light and sandy.
EUDOXUS saith, that the priests of Aegypt assigne the cause hereof to the great raines and the Antiperistasis or contrarie occurse of seasons; for that when it is Summer with us, who inha∣bit within the Zone toward the Summer Tropicke, it is Winter with those who dwell in the op∣posit Zone under the Winter Tropicke, whereupon (saith he) proceedeth this great inundati∣on of waters, breaking downe unto the river Nilus.