an account of egypt(埃及记)-第3章
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AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
other Egyptians； for they have no labour in breaking up furrows with a
plough nor in hoeing nor in any other of those labours which other men
have about a crop； but when the river has come up of itself and watered
their fields and after watering has left them again； then each man sows his
own field and turns into it swine； and when he has trodden the seed into
the ground by means of the swine； after that he waits for the harvest； and
when he has threshed the corn by means of the swine； then he gathers it in。
If we desire to follow the opinions of the Ionians as regards Egypt；
who say that the Delta alone is Egypt； reckoning its sea…coast to be from
the watch…tower called of Perseus to the fish…curing houses of Pelusion； a
distance of forty /schoines/； and counting it to extend inland as far as the
city of Kercasoros； where the Nile divides and runs to Pelusion and
Canobos； while as for the rest of Egypt； they assign it partly to Libya and
partly to Arabia；if； I say； we should follow this account； we should
thereby declare that in former times the Egyptians had no land to live in；
for； as we have seen； their Delta at any rate is alluvial； and has appeared
（so to speak） lately； as the Egyptians themselves say and as my opinion is。
If then at the first there was no land for them to live in； why did they waste
their labour to prove that they had come into being before all other men？
They needed not to have made trial of the children to see what language
they would first utter。 However I am not of the opinion that the Egyptians
came into being at the same time as that which is called by the Ionians the
Delta； but that they existed always ever since the human race came into
being； and that as their land advanced forwards； many of them were left in
their first abodes and many came down gradually to the lower parts。 At
least it is certain that in old times Thebes had the name of Egypt； and of
this the circumference measures six thousand one hundred and twenty
furlongs。
If then we judge aright of these matters； the opinion of the Ionians
about Egypt is not sound： but if the judgment of the Ionians is right； I
declare that neither the Hellenes nor the Ionians themselves know how to
reckon since they say that the whole earth is made up of three divisions；
Europe； Asia； and Libya： for they ought to count in addition to these the
Delta of Egypt； since it belongs neither to Asia nor to Libya； for at least it
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AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
cannot be the river Nile by this reckoning which divides Asia from Libya；
but the Nile is cleft at the point of this Delta so as to flow round it； and the
result is that this land would come between Asia and Libya。
We dismiss then our opinion of the Ionians； and express a judgment of
our own on this matter also； that Egypt is all that land which is inhabited
by Egyptians； just as Kilikia is that which is inhabited by Kilikians and
Assyria that which is inhabited by Assyrians； and we know of no boundary
properly speaking between Asia and Libya except the borders of Egypt。 If
however we shall adopt the opinion which is commonly held by the
Hellenes； we shall suppose that the whole of Egypt； beginning from the
Cataract and the city of Elephantine； is divided into two parts and that it
thus partakes of both the names； since one side will thus belong to Libya
and the other to Asia； for the Nile from the Cataract onwards flows to the
sea cutting Egypt through in the midst； and as far as the city of Kercasoros
the Nile flows in one single stream； but from this city onwards it is parted
into three ways； and one； which is called the Pelusian mouth； turns
towards the East； the second of the ways goes towards the West； and this is
called the Canobic mouth； but that one of the ways which is straight runs
thus；when the river in its course downwards comes to the point of the
Delta； then it cuts the Delta through the midst and so issues out to the sea。
In this we have a portion of the water of the river which is not the smallest
nor the least famous； and it is called the Sebennytic mouth。 There are also
two other mouths which part off from the Sebennytic and go to the sea；
and these are called； one the Saitic； the other the Mendesian mouth。 The
Bolbitinitic； and Bucolic mouths； on the other hand； are not natural but
made by digging。 Moreover also the answer given by the Oracle of
Ammon bears witness in support of my opinion that Egypt is of the extent
which I declare it to be in my account； and of this answer I heard after I
had formed my own opinion about Egypt。 For those of the city of Marea
and of Apis； dwelling in the parts of Egypt which border on Libya； being
of opinion themselves that they were Libyans and not Egyptians； and also
being burdened by the rules of religious service； because they desired not
to be debarred from the use of cows' flesh； sent to Ammon saying that they
had nought in common with the Egyptians； for they dwelt outside the
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Delta and agreed with them in nothing； and they said they desired that it
might be lawful for them to eat everything without distinction。 The god
however did not permit them to do so； but said that that land was Egypt
where the Nile came over and watered； and that those were Egyptians who
dwelling below the city of Elephantine drank of that river。 Thus was it
answered to them by the Oracle about this： and the Nile； when it is in
flood； goes over not only the Delta but also of the land which is called
Libyan and of that which is called Arabian sometimes as much as two
days' journey on each side； and at times even more than this or at times
less。
As regards the nature of the river； neither from the priests nor yet from
any other man was I able to obtain any knowledge： and I was desirous
especially to learn from them about these matters； namely why the Nile
comes down increasing in volume from the summer solstice onwards for a
hundred days； and then； when it has reached the number of these days；
turns and goes back； failing in its stream； so that through the whole winter
season it continues to be low； and until the summer solstice returns。 Of
none of these things was I able to receive any account from the Egyptians；
when I inquired of them what power the Nile has whereby it is of a nature
opposite to that of all other rivers。 And I made inquiry； desiring to know
both this which I say and also why； unlike all other rivers； it does not give
rise to any breezes blowing from it。 However some of the Hellenes who
desired to gain distinction for cleverness have given an account of this
water in three different ways： two of these I do not think it worth while
even to speak of except only to indicate their nature； of which the one says
that the Etesian Winds are the cause that makes the river rise； by
preventing the Nile from flowing out into the sea。 But often the Etesian
Winds fail and yet the Nile does the same work as it is wont to do； and
moreover； if these were the cause； all the other rivers also which flow in a
direction opposed to the Etesian Winds ought to have been affected in the
same way as the Nile； and even more； in as much as they are smaller and
present to them a feebler flow of streams： but there are many of these
rivers in Syria and many also in Libya； and they are affected in no such
manner as the Nile。 The second way shows more ignorance than that
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which has been mentioned； and it is more marvellous to tell； for it says
that the river produces these effects because it flows from the Ocean； and
that the Ocean flows round the whole earth。 The third of the ways is much
the most specious； but nevertheless it is the most mistaken of all： for
indeed this way has no more truth in it than the rest； alleging as it does that
the Nile flows from melting snow； whereas it flows out of Libya through
the midst of the Ethiopians； and so comes out into Egypt。 How then should
it flow from snow； when it flows from the hottest parts to those which are
cooler？ And indeed most of the facts are such as to convince a man （one at
least who is capable of reasoning about such matters）； that it is not at all
likely that it flows from snow。 The first and greatest evidence is afforded
by the winds； which blow hot from these regions； the second is that the
land is rainless always and without frost； whereas after snow has fallen
rain must necessarily come within five days； so that if it snowed in those
parts rain would fall there； the third evidence is afforded by the people
dwelling there； who are of a black colour by reason of the burning heat。
Moreover kites and swallows remain there through the year and do not
leave the land； and cranes flying from the cold weather which comes on in
the region of Scythia come regularly to these parts for wintering： if then it
snowed ever so little in that land through which the Nile flows and in
which it has its rise； none of these things would take place； as necessity
compels us to admit。 As for him who talked about the Ocean； he carried
his tale into the region of the unknown； and so he need not be refuted；
since I for my part know of no river Ocean existing； but I think that Homer
or one of the poets who were before him invented the name and
introduced it into his verse。
If however after I have found fault with the opinions proposed； I am
bound to declare an opinion of my own about the matters which are in
doubt； I will tell what to my mind is the reason why the Nile increases in
the summer。 In the winter season
