Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-11-08
[WHoLE No. 449.
EGYPT.

SIS Oi one Ot -uI. DuSN'"o"o" 'SS'"
in Boston, in the Boston Mercantile
Journal -
Another remark able fact in connec-
ton with the history Of Egypt, was the
great density OF its poPuiat'on-it being
more thickly inhabited, compared with
the insignifcance Of its area, than any
o,ber country recorded in history
Esypt was a long and narrow valley--a
s,r,p of small di,ncnsions--its length be-
ing six hundred miles but its breadth
averaging only ten miles. Its breadth,
however, vaIied--in some places being
fifty mics-in others, two men placed
ON different sides Of tue Nile, Oh the
confines Of the country, could hold con-
veisation with each other ! Egylt was
the niit of the Nile, which ovcrtiowed
annually, and left rich deposit. The
soil which was not subject 10 this mum
dalion, was so barren that the eft"rts OF
man could hardly make it produce
blade of grass. He compared the cx-
tent and population Of Egypt with 'hHt
of Great Britain. 1t was of the same
length, but Great Britain was ten times
the breadth. An opinion prevailed in
Great Britain, that that country was
over peopled, yet II contained popula-
ton of only $4,000, 900; while Egypt,
with only One-tenth part al the area OF
Great Britain, contained under tho
Ptolemics, a population Of 2O,OOO,OOOs
and probably much greater number
under the reign of the Pharaohs. Yet
with this enormous population, Egypt
did not require to import the n"cessarles
of life. She was very properly called
the Granary Of he JPorid and when
most densel ~ populated, exported large
quantities Of wheat TO other countries.
The cause Of this extraordinary Ter
tili,y Of the Egyptian soil, was the Nile,
with its periodical inundai'ons. his
river had been celebrated for its splen-
dor and majesty, and its striking pecu-
linritics from time immemorial-and not
without reason. 1t owed its celebrity To
several causes. The first was the un-
aided nature Of its current, which rush
ed on in single majesty, receiving ~"
tributary stream, not even streamlet or
ril, for the distance Of 1850 miles from
! its mouth. In this particular the Nie
differed from every other river which -
known. In the next place..h was cele-
bra,ed for it's seven mouths, producing
d., tho Delta, and at each mouth there was
the site of once large aud magnificent
city. The number seven was sacred
number among the ancients-h beng
supposed that deep mystery was con-
} necied with it-and it was held IN great
ycncraiion by many naiions-and this
! circumstance added to the wonderful
pcculiarities Of the Nile. In the third
! place might be urged the mystery which
surr ounded the source Of the Nile. In
this il differed from all other rivers III
the world and Notwithstanding the at
, ,empts of Cambyses, Of Alexander tho
/ Great, and Of an almost Eumberlcss
anoun, of expeditions fitted out by gov
ernmcnts or societies, or undertaken vol
UNFAIRLY by individuals, since those times
the snurces Of the Nile still remain un-
discovered. Many bold and enterpr's-
ing travellers had perished in endeavor-
ing to penetrate the recesses OF Africa,
; and discover the source Of this remarka-
ble river, "a Mungo Park, Belz"ni,
Clapper,on, Lcdyard, and Others. When
the Landcrs were sent by the African
institution, some years since, sangnlno
hone was entertained that they would
find in the source ofthe Niger tie source
= of the Nile. They followed their in-
s,ructions and descended The Niger
but they were soon suddenly whirled
round from East TO West, and finally
found themselves carried down by tho
current to the Atlantic Ocean MIR. Is.
paid a handsome tribute tothe character
of Bruce-he considered him one OF the
boldest and most enterprising Of modern
travellers. But Bruce was mistaken IN
supposing that he had discovered the
source of the Nile. AT "a distance Of
1850 miles from its mouth, the Nile is
formed from two rivers, one Of which
flows from the East, the other from the
West. Bruce ascended the che which
: Geographers had universally considered
, the largest and the deepest-and as be-
ing the principal source-and necr en-
4 countering many perils, was fully Just'-
fed in believing that he had reached IN
I the depths Of Abyssinia, the object of all
: his tolls. Since that time travellers had
ascendcd the other branch TO consid-
q cradle disiance-an all coDcurr"d ~
4; ipronouncing 1t the principal somce "i
e this remarkable river-but none had yet
b. been fund hardy and successful enough
10 penetrate to its source. An"her re-
markablc circumstance connected with
/. the Nile, wns its inundstions. Thet"
might be nothing peculiar IN this, in IT.
& self NJ other rivers frequently over
g flowed their banks-but what was re-
marksble was the almost astronomical
punctualhy with which these inunda-
J tons annually took place. They never
lailed-und no visible existing cause
could be assigned for this periodical re
7 dundancy of i,s waters. II seemed as
if it WAS caused by some nay s,crious
power.
y Mr.. Buckingham next Describes the
Delta, the triangular island nj the mouth
OF the river, formed Of the annulsr de-
'posiis attending the iaunds,ion. The
soil of the Delta was extremely rich md
productive. lie next briefly described
l,st. r.,...ct. .c th. N.le--aui The