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Nilus is a River of Egypt, that runs by the City of Alexandria. It was formerly call'd Melas, from Melas the Son of Neptune; but afterwards it was call'd Egyptus, upon this occasion. Egyptus, the Son of Vulcan and Leu∣cippe, was formerly King of the Country, between
whom and his own Subjects, happen'd a Civil War. At what time the River Nile not increasing, the Egypti∣ans were opprest with Famine. Upon which the Ora∣cle made Answer, that the Land should be again blest with Plenty, if the King would sacrifice his Daughter, to attone the Anger of the Gods. Upon which the King, though greatly afflicted in his Mind, gave way to the publick Good, and suffer'd his Daughter to be lead to the Altar. But so soon as she was sacrific'd, the King not able to support the Burthen of his Grief, threw himself into the River Melas, which after that was call'd Egyptus. But then it was call'd Nilus upon this Occasion.
Garmathone, Queen of Egypt, having lost her Son Chry∣sochoa, while he was yet very young, with all her Ser∣vants and Friends, most bitterly bemoan'd her Loss. At what time Isis appearing to her, she surceas'd her Sor∣row for a while, and putting on the Countenance of a feigned Gratitude, kindly entertain'd the Goddess. Who willing to make a suitable Return to the Queen for the Piety which she express'd in her Reception, perswaded Osiris to bring back her Son from the subterraneal Re∣gions. Which when Osiris undertook to do, at the Op∣portunity of his Wife, Cerberus, whom some call Phobe∣ros, or the Terrible, barkt so loud, that Nilus, Germathone's Husband struck with a sudden Frenzy, threw himself into the River Egyptus, which from thence was after∣wards call'd Nilus.
In this River grows a Stone, not unlike to a Bean, which so soon as any Dog happens to see, he ceases to bark. It also expels the Evil Spirit out of those that are pos∣sess'd, if held to the Nostrils of the Party afflicted.
There are other Stones which are found in this Ri∣ver, call'd Kollotes, which the Swallows picking up a∣gainst the time that Nilus overflows, build up the Wall which is cal••'d the Chelidoman Wall, which restrains the Inundation of the Water, and will not suffer the Coun∣try
to be injur'd by the Fury of the Flood; as Thrasyllus tells us in his Relations of Egypt.
Upon this River lyes the Mountain Argyllus, so call'd for this Reason.
Jupiter in the Heat of his amorous Desires, ravish'd away the Nimph Arge from Lyctum, a City of Creete, and then carry'd her to a Mountain of Egypt, call'd Argillus, and there begat a Son, whom he nam'd Diony∣sius, who growing up to years of Manhood, in Honor of his Mother, call'd the Hill Argillus; and then muster∣ing together an Army of Pans and Satyrs, first con∣quer'd the Indians, and then subduing Spain, left Pan behind him there the chief Commander and Governor of those Places, who by his own Name call'd that Country Pania, which was afterwards by his Posterity call'd Spania; as Sosthenes relates in his Ibeian Relation.