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however they are weak； since not only the showers of rain fail them； but
also they are drawn by the Sun。 The Nile however； alone of all rivers； not
having rain and being drawn by the Sun； naturally flows during this time
of winter in much less than its proper volume； that is much less than in
summer； for then it is drawn equally with all the other waters； but in
winter it bears the burden alone。 Thus I suppose the Sun to be the cause of
these things。 He also is the cause in my opinion that the air in these parts is
dry； since he makes it so by scorching up his path through the heaven： thus
summer prevails always in the upper parts of Libya。 If however the station
of the seasons had been changed； and where now in the heaven are placed
the North Wind and winter； there was the station of the South Wind and of
the midday； and where now is placed the South Wind； there was the North；
if this had been so； the Sun being driven from the midst of the heaven by
the winter and the North Wind would go to the upper parts of Europe； just
as now he comes to the upper parts of Libya； and passing in his course
throughout the whole of Europe I suppose he would do to the Ister that
which he now works upon the Nile。 As to the breeze； why none blows
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from the river； my opinion is that from very hot places it is not natural that
anything should blow； and that a breeze is wont to blow from something
cold。
Let these matters then be as they are and as they were at the first： but
as to the sources of the Nile； not one either of the Egyptians or of the
Libyans or of the Hellenes； who came to speech with me； professed to
know anything； except the scribe of the sacred treasury of Athene at the
city of Sais in Egypt。 To me however this man seemed not to be speaking
seriously when he said that he had certain knowledge of it； and he said as
follows； namely that there were two mountains of which the tops ran up to
a sharp point； situated between the city of Syene； which is in the district of
Thebes； and Elephantine； and the names of the mountains were； of the one
Crophi and of the other Mophi。 From the middle between these mountains
flowed （he said） the sources of the Nile； which were fathomless in depth；
and half of the water flowed to Egypt and towards the North Wind； the
other half to Ethiopia and the South Wind。 As for the fathomless depth of
the source； he said that Psammetichos king of Egypt came to a trial of this
matter； for he had a rope twisted of many thousand fathoms and let it
down in this place； and it found no bottom。 By this the scribe （if this
which he told was really as he said） gave me to understand that there were
certain strong eddies there and a backward flow； and that since the water
dashed against the mountains； therefore the sounding…line could not come
to any bottom when it was let down。 From no other person was I able to
learn anything about this matter； but for the rest I learnt so much as here
follows by the most diligent inquiry； for I went myself as an eye…witness
as far as the city of Elephantine and from that point onwards I gathered
knowledge by report。 From the city of Elephantine as one goes up the river
there is country which slopes steeply； so that here one must attach ropes to
the vessel on both sides； as one fastens an ox； and so make one's way
onward； and if the rope break； the vessel is gone at once； carried away by
the violence of the stream。 Through this country it is a voyage of about
four days in length； and in this part the Nile is winding like the river
Maiander； and the distance amounts to twelve /schoines/； which one must
traverse in this manner。 Then you will come to a level plain； in which the
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Nile flows round an island named Tachompso。 （Now in the regions above
the Elephantine there dwell Ethiopians at once succeeding； who also
occupy half of the island； and Egyptians the other half。） Adjoining this
island there is a great lake； round which dwell Ethiopian nomad tribes； and
when you have sailed through this you will come to the stream of the Nile
again； which flows into this lake。 After this you will disembark and make
a journey by land of forty days； for in the Nile sharp rocks stand forth out
of the water； and there are many reefs； by which it is not possible for a
vessel to pass。 Then after having passed through this country in the forty
days which I have said； you will embark again in another vessel and sail
for twelve days； and after this you will come to a great city called Meroe。
This city is said to be the mother…city of all the other Ethiopians： and they
who dwell in it reverence of the gods Zeus and Dionysos alone； and these
they greatly honour； and they have an Oracle of Zeus established； and
make warlike marches whensoever the god commands them by
prophesyings and to whatsoever place he commands。 Sailing from this city
you will come to the 〃Deserters〃 in another period of time equal to that in
which you came from Elephantine to the mother…city of the Ethiopians。
Now the name of these 〃Deserters〃 is /Asmach/； and this word signifies；
when translated into the tongue of the Hellenes； 〃those who stand on the
left hand of the king。〃 These were two hundred and forty thousand
Egyptians of the warrior class； who revolted and went over to these
Ethiopians for the following cause：In the reign of Psammetichos
garrisons were set； one towards the Ethiopians at the city of Elephantine；
another towards the Arabians and Assyrians at Daphnai of Pelusion； and
another towards Libya at Marea： and even in my own time the garrisons of
the Persians too are ordered in the same manner as these were in the reign
of Psammetichos； for both at Elephantine and at Daphnai the Persians
have outposts。 The Egyptians then of whom I speak had served as outposts
for three years and no one relieved them from their guard； accordingly
they took counsel together； and adopting a common plan they all in a body
revolted from Psammetichos and set out for Ethiopia。 Hearing this
Psammetichos set forth in pursuit； and when he came up with them he
entreated them much and endeavo