Page:Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile - In the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773 volume 3.djvu/719

 THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 693

When the river has riien on the Mikeas eight pecks and 23 digits, they then call WWW am erba Tujh, i. e. one from 14, five peeks of water being left marked in the Mikeas, but only eight of augmentation that has rifen upon the column, according to the divifions, which make in all 13 peeks and 23 digits, which wants one from being nine of augmenta- tion, and that being added, they cry Wafad Ulldh, which ob- liges the country to the payment of the meery. Again, fuppofe 17 peeks, or cubits, and 23 digits to Hand on the column, the cry is Wahddam temen T?//Ij, i. e. one from 18, and, upon this being filled, and the divifions complete by a cer- tain day in Auguft, the next is AJloarcen, 20, or, men Jibbed alia Jibbed from mountain to mountain, that is, 1 8 peeks mark- ed on the pillar, and two unmarked at the foot of it, fup- pofed to be covered with mud. All the land of Egypt is then fitted for cultivation ; the great canal at Manfoura, and feveral others, are opened, which convey the water in- to the defert, and hinder any further ilagnation on the fields, though there is dill a great part of the water to come from Lt! iopia, but which would not drain foon enough to lit the land for tillare, were the inundation fullered to go on.

Now, from thefe 16 peeks the Wafaa Ullah if we deduce 5, which were in the well, and marked on the column when the crier began, there will have been but 1 1 peeks of rife as a minimum, which full made the meery due, or 15, de- ducing 5 from 20, the maximum, men Jibbel, alia Jibbel, the i.xreafe that fits all t.gypt for cultivation, after which is lofs and danger. Therefore, fuppofe the 16 peeks on the medal of Hadrian to have been the minimum or fifcal term, we xnuft infer, that the fame quantity of inundation produced

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