THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 697
that the inundation mould retire in time to leave the far- mer the ground firm enough for plowing and fowing.
Let any one read what I have already quoted from Stra- bo; it is juft what I have here repeated, but in fewer, words. Let him confider how fair an experiment this of Petronius was, that by re-eftablifhing the works of Maoris, and putting the inundation to the fame profit that Mseris did, he found the fame quantity of water overflow the fame quantity of ground, and confequently, that the land of Egypt had not been railed an inch from Maris's time to that of Petronius, above 1400 years.
Now the fecond part of the queflion comes, what differ- ence of meafure was made by the Saracens, and how does it now Hand, after that period, as to the fuppofed rife of a foot in a hundred years ? It is now above 1100 years fince the f firil of the Hegira, and near 900 years fince the erec- tion of the prefent Mikeas, which being equal to the period between Maris and Herodotus, and again to that between Herodotus and Julian, we fhould begin to be certain if any fuch increafe in the land has ever, from Maris to the pre- fent time, been indicated by the Nilometer.
The reader will 'perhaps be furprifed, at what I am going to advance, That thofe writers, as well as their fupporters Who have pronounced fo pofitively on this fubjeet, have not furnifhed themfelves with the data which are abfolutely neceffary to folve this queftion. Quantity is only to be af- Vol. III. 4 x certained
t A. C. 622.
