按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
garment or a linen sheet； bite through these； but through the net they do
not even attempt to bite。
Their boats with which they carry cargoes are made of the thorny
acacia； of which the form is very like that of the Kyrenian lotos； and that
which exudes from it is gum。 From this tree they cut pieces of wood about
two cubits in length and arrange them like bricks； fastening the boat
together by running a great number of long bolts through the two…cubits
pieces； and when they have thus fastened the boat together； they lay cross…
pieces over the top； using no ribs for the sides； and within they caulk the
seams with papyrus。 They make one steering…oar for it； which is passed
through the bottom of the boat； and they have a mast of acacia and sails of
papyrus。 These boats cannot sail up the river unless there be a very fresh
43
… Page 44…
AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
wind blowing； but are towed from the shore： down…stream however they
travel as follows：they have a door…shaped crate made of tamarisk wood
and reed mats sewn together； and also a stone of about two talents weight
bored with a hole； and of these the boatman lets the crate float on in front
of the boat； fastened with a rope； and the stone drags behind by another
rope。 The crate then； as the force of the stream presses upon it； goes on
swiftly and draws on the /baris/ （for so these boats are called）； while the
stone dragging after it behind and sunk deep in the water keeps its course
straight。 These boats they have in great numbers and some of them carry
many thousands of talents' burden。
When the Nile comes over the land； the cities alone are seen rising
above the water； resembling more nearly than anything else the islands in
the Egean Sea； for the rest of Egypt becomes a sea and the cities alone rise
above water。 Accordingly； whenever this happens； they pass by water not
now by the channels of the river but over the midst of the plain： for
example； as one sails up from Naucratis to Memphis the passage is then
close by the pyramids； whereas the usual passage is not the same even
here； but goes by the point of the Delta and the city of Kercasoros； while if
you sail over the plain to Naucratis from the sea and from Canobos； you
will go by Anthylla and the city called after Archander。 Of these Anthylla
is a city of note and is especially assigned to the wife of him who reigns
over Egypt； to supply her with sandals； （this is the case since the time
when Egypt came to be under the Persians）： the other city seems to me to
have its name from Archander the son…in…law of Danaos； who was the son
of Phthios； the son of Achaios； for it is called the City of Archander。 There
might indeed by another Archander； but in any case the name is not
Egyptian。
Hitherto my own observation and judgment and inquiry are the
vouchers for that which I have said； but from this point onwards I am
about to tell the history of Egypt according to that which I have heard； to
which will be added also something of that which I have myself seen。
Of Min； who first became king of Egypt； the priests said that on the
one hand he banked off the site of Memphis from the river： for the whole
44
… Page 45…
AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
stream of the river used to flow along by the sandy mountain… range on the
side of Libya； but Min formed by embankments that bend of the river
which lies to the South about a hundred furlongs above Memphis； and thus
he dried up the old stream and conducted the river so that it flowed in the
middle between the mountains： and even now this bend of the Nile is by
the Persians kept under very careful watch； that it may flow in the channel
to which it is confined； and the bank is repaired every year； for if the river
should break through and overflow in this direction； Memphis would be in
danger of being overwhelmed by flood。 When this Min； who first became
king； had made into dry land the part which was dammed off； on the one
hand； I say； he founded in it that city which is now called Memphis； for
Memphis too is in the narrow part of Egypt； and outside the city he dug
round it on the North and West a lake communicating with the river； for
the side towards the East is barred by the Nile itself。 Then secondly he
established in the city the temple of Hephaistos a great work and most
worthy of mention。 After this man the priests enumerated to me from a
papyrus roll the names of other kings； three hundred and thirty in number；
and in all these generations of men eighteen were Ethiopians； one was a
woman； a native Egyptian； and the rest were men and of Egyptian race：
and the name of the woman who reigned was the same as that of the
Babylonian queen； namely Nitocris。 Of her they said that desiring to take
vengeance for her brother； whom the Egyptians had slain when he was
their king and then； after having slain him； had given his kingdom to her；
desiring； I say； to take vengeance for him； she destroyed by craft many of
the Egyptians。 For she caused to be constructed a very large chamber
under ground； and making as though she would handsel it but in her mind
devising other things； she invited those of the Egyptians whom she knew
to have had most part in the murder； and gave a great banquet。 Then while
they were feasting； she let in the river upon them by a secret conduit of
large size。 Of her they told no more than this； except that； when this had
been accomplished； she threw herself into a room full of embers； in order
that she might escape vengeance。 As for the other kings； they could tell me
of no great works which had been produced by them； and they said that
they had no renown except only the last of them； Moiris： he （they said）
45
… Page 46…
AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
produced as a memorial of himself the gateway of the temple of
Hephaistos which is turned towards the North Wind； and dug a lake； about
which I shall set forth afterwards how many furlongs of circuit it has； and
in it built pyramids of the size which I shall mention at the same time
when I speak of the lake itself。 He； they said； produced these works； but of
the rest none produced any。
Therefore passing these by I will make ment