called Arcturus, which may probably allude to its periodical overflow about the time of year, when this ſtar riſes coſmically, which took place then about the latter end of Auguſt, when the ſnows are melting. Apollonius remarks in the ſame country the wet Weather, which accompanied the riſing of Arcturus, which might contribute to the ſame purpoſe, and is agreeable to the obſervation, of Hippocrates mentioned above..
Ὕδασι σημαίνων διερὴν ὁδὸν Ἄρκτούροιο. Argon. lib. ii. ver. nor.
It may be added in confirmation of what has been juſt obſerved, that the Nile, whoſe annual increaſé is thought to be owing to the ſame cauſe, which is here ſuggeſſted reſpecting the Phaſis, begins to increaſe about the Summer ſolſtice, and continues increaſing until September; but as it riſes in very hot countries, it may begin to overflow earlier than the Phaſis, as the ſnow melts ſooner. Somewhat of a ſimilar analogy may, according to Selden, be obſerved between the Nile and Sirius, as is here ſuggeſted between the Phaſis and Arcturus. The Dog-ſtar (Sirius) was, as he thinks, ſo called from Siris, the ancient name of the Nile, as the coſmical riſe of [1] Sirius coincided with the time of the greateſt increaſe of the river.
The ſame circumſtance may account for the different character given of the ſalubrity of the water. That of the Nile is thought unwholeſome, when the river is riſing; but at other times, if al-
- ↑ Sirio cane, cujus exortu Nili aſcenfus quotannis fiebat, a Siri, id eſt Nilo, etiam procul dubio denominator. Selden. de Vitulo Aureo, Syntagm. i. c. 4. The Nile is called Sihor in various paſſges of Scripture.
