THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 637
of the mountain of Geefh, arifes a hillock of a circular form, about three feet from the furface of the marfh it- felf, though apparently founded much deeper in it. The diameter of this is fomething fhort of twelve feet, it is fur- rounded by a mallow trench, which collects the water and voids it eaft ward ; it is firmly built with fod or earthen turf, brought from the fides, and conftantly kept in repair, artel this is the altar upon which all their religious ceremo. ks are performed. In the middle of this altar is a hole, obvi- oully made, or at leaf!: enlarged by the hand of man. It is kept clear of grafs, or other aquatic plants, and the wa- ter in it is perleclly pure and limpid, but has no ebullition or motion of any kind difcernible upon its furface. This mouth, or opening of the fource, is fome parts of an inch Iefs than three feet diameter, and the water ftood at that time the 5th of November, about two inches from the ! : p or brim, nor did it either increafe or diminifh during all the time of my ftay at Geefh though we made plentiful ufe of it.
Upon putting down the fbaft of my lance at fix feet four inches, I found a very reeble refinance, as if from weak rufhes or grafs, and about lix inches deeper I found my lance had entered into foft earth, but met with no ftones or gravel; this was confirmed by another experiment, made on the 9th with a heavy plummet and line befmeared with foap, the bottom of which brought up at the above depth only black earth, fuch. as the marfh itfelf and its fides are compofed of.
Ten feet diftant from the firft of thefe fprings, a little to the weft of fouth, is the fecond fountain, about eleven inches in diameter, but this is eight feet, three inches deep.
And
