THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 6 9S
to wafte without profit, which muft have been the cafe, fince it is Co at this day: obferving likewile, that the fuperabun- dance of water in the Nile did harm, and that the neigh- bouring fandy plains of Libya needed nothing but a judi- cious di'tribution of that water, to make it equal to the land of Egypt in fertility, and furpafs it in the variety of natural productions, applied themfelves very early to dig- ging large lakes*, that, preferving a degree of level fumcient, all the year long watered the dry deferts of Libya like fo many fruitful mowers. Geometry, architecture, and all the mechanic arts of thofe times, were employed to accomplifh thofe defigns. Thefe canals and vaft works communicated one with another to imprifon the water, and fet it again at liberty at proper times.
We may be fatisfied this was obferved attentively all the time of the dynafties, or reigns of the Egyptian prints. Af- ter the acceffion of the Ptolemies, who were {hungers, the multitude of inhabitants had greatly decreaied. There was no occafion for works to water lands that were not peopled; fo far as they were neceiFary for cities, gardens, and plea- fure -grounds, they were always kept up. The larger and more extenfive conduits, dykes, and flukes, though they were not ufed, were protected by their own folidity and ftrength from fudden ruin. Egypt, now confined within its ancient narrow valley, had water enough to keep it in cul- ture, and make it flill the granary of the inhabited world.
When
- We know that thefe lakes were dug, and in ufe as early as Mofes's time. Exod. chap vii.
ver. 19. chap. viii. ver. 5.
