Page:Arrian's Voyage Round the Euxine Sea Translated.djvu/52

48 called Arcturus, which may probably allude to its periodical overflow about the time of year, when this tar ries comically, which took place then about the latter end of Augut, when the nows are melting. Apollonius remarks in the ame country the wet Weather, which accompanied the riing of Arcturus, which might contribute to the ame purpoe, and is agreeable to the obervation, of Hippocrates mentioned above..

. Argon. lib. ii. ver. nor.

It may be added in confirmation of what has been jut oberved, that the Nile, whoe annual increaé is thought to be owing to the ame caue, which is here uggeted repecting the Phais, begins to increae about the Summer oltice, and continues increaing until September; but as it ries in very hot countries, it may begin to overflow earlier than the Phais, as the now melts ooner. Somewhat of a imilar analogy may, according to Selden, be oberved between the Nile and Sirius, as is here uggeted between the Phais and Arcturus. The Dog-tar (Sirius) was, as he thinks, o called from Siris, the ancient name of the Nile, as the comical rie of Sirius coincided with the time of the greatet increae of the river.

The ame circumtance may account for the different character given of the alubrity of the water. That of the Nile is thought unwholeome, when the river is riing; but at other times, if lowed