The Delta of Egypt may be higher above sea water mark at present than it was in early times, from the ef fects of the earth accumulated by the annual decay of luxuriant vegetable productions ; but we believe, that the progress in this respect is extremely slow, if at all perceptible. As much earth may be washen off by the streams which overflow it, as is deposited by these wa ters, or occasioned by vegetable products. The diffe rence of cubits in the rise of the Nile, which was ne cessary at different times to water the Delta, sufficient ly for producing luxuriant crops, are rather to be as cribed to different lengths of the cubit, than to any visi ble difference of the height of the Delta above the gene ral channel of the Nile.
This river requires particular notice, from its impor tance to the fertility and general prosperity of Egypt. In times of ignorance, many absurd ideas were entertained respecting the origin and source of this celebrated river. About 7° south of the boundaries of Egypt, two rivers unite their streams, to form the copious waters of the Nile. One of these is called the Bahir Alabiad, which rises in the district of Douga, belonging to the Gebel Alcomri, or Mountains of the Moon, in the 8th degree of north latitude. It is also called the White River, from the tinge which its waters acquire from the nature of the channel over which they flow. The latter is the Bahir Alazrek, or Blue River, whose waters are clear ; which has its origin from some springs in the province of Geesh, in the 11° of north latitude. The White River takes its rise about 3° nearer the line than the Blue River ; and the former is three times the size of the latter ; and yct Mr Bruce ascribes the origin of the Nile to the province of,Geesh rather than the Mountains of the Moon.
There have been more disputes and sarcastic humour on this head, than the merits of the case deserve. One part of the waters of the Nile rolls its course from the Mountains of the Moon, and another from the province of Geesh ; and the question is merely this, which of these places is to be esteemed the source of the Nile ? It is far from being uncommon for a river of note to derive its name from the smaller of two branches which compose its streams; and the argument would hold equally good, whether tl,e difference he six or six hun d•ed miles. That the waters of the Nile hat e their ori ginal source in the Gebel Alcom•i, is certain ; but the question is, how and when the Nile derived its name ? The word Nile, in some of the Eastern languages, neam, the Blue River ; and as the B.thir Alazrek, Nt Ilidi ribls
in the province of Geesh, is known by that apps nation, It follows, of course, that the Nile derived its designa tion from the Abyssinian river, and not from the Bahir Alabiad, though its streams arc more copious, and their course of greater extent. If these ideas be correct, the springs in the province of Geesh are the source of the Nile. But if it be asked, where the waters of the Egyp tian river take their first rise, we must, according to the present state of our knowledge, direct the enquirer to the White River, which has its rise in the Mountains of the Moon. The course of the Nile is about 2000 miles ; but running, as it does in the whole of its track, through a warm country and over a parched soil, it en ters Egypt with a less copious supply of water than might be expected from its length. Its breadth seldom exceeds the third part of a mile, or its waters the depth of 12 feet.
Between the tropics, it rains incessantly every year for several months in succession ; and to this we must ascribe the annual ovcrflowings of the Nile, as well as of other rivers that have their source in tropical coun tries. The Etisian winds may occasionally drive back the streams of the Nile, and raise the waters higher at the mouths of its branches ; but it is to the periodical rains toward the upper parts of the Nile, that we are chiefly to ascribe these inundations which fertilize the Delta. This lower part of Egypt is not wholly covered by the inundations of the Nile, though the houses are built on artificial mounds to raise them above the water, and means are employed, by ductile streams, to render the influence of its waters as extensive as possible, in irrigating and enriching the land. It is justly supposa ble, that the cultivated parts of the Delta, are not so ex tensive now as they were in early times, when the king dom of Egypt was flourishing under its native kings. Several branches of the Nile have been wholly or in part obstructed and filled up in the middle of the Delta ; and those towards the extremities are more likely to have suffered a similar late.