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AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
land comes down to the sea； Libya is full of wild beasts； and in the parts
above the land of wild beasts it is full of sand； terribly waterless and
utterly desert。 These young men then （said they）； being sent out by their
companions well furnished with supplies of water and provisions； went
first through the inhabited country； and after they had passed through this
they came to the country of wild beasts； and after this they passed through
the desert； making their journey towards the West Wind； and having
passed through a great tract of sand in many days； they saw at last trees
growing in a level place； and having come up to them； they were
beginning to pluck the fruit which was upon the trees： but as they began to
pluck it； there came upon them small men； of less stature than men of the
common size； and these seized them and carried them away； and neither
could the Nasamonians understand anything of their speech nor could
those who were carrying them off understand anything of the speech of the
Nasamonians； and they led them （so it was said） through very great
swamps； and after passing through these they came to a city in which all
the men were in size like those who carried them off and in colour of skin
black； and by the city ran a great river； which ran from the West towards
the sunrising； and in it were seen crocodiles。 Of the account given by
Etearchos the Ammonian let so much suffice as is here said； except that； as
the men of Kyrene told me； he alleged that the Nasamonians returned safe
home； and that the people to whom they had come were all wizards。 Now
this river which ran by the city； Etearchos conjectured to be the Nile； and
moreover reason compels us to think so； for the Nile flows from Libya and
cuts Libya through in the midst； and as I conjecture； judging of what is not
known by that which is evident to the view； it starts at a distance from its
mouth equal to that of the Ister： for the river Ister begins from the Keltoi
and the city of Pyrene and so runs that it divides Europe in the midst （now
the Keltoi are outside the Pillars of Heracles and border upon the
Kynesians； who dwell furthest towards the sunset of all those who have
their dwelling in Europe）： and the Ister ends； having its course through the
whole of Europe； by flowing into the Euxine Sea at the place where the
Milesians have their settlement of Istria。 Now the Ister； since it flows
through land which is inhabited； is known by the reports of many； but of
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the sources of the Nile no one can give an account； for the part of Libya
through which it flows is uninhabited and desert。 About its course however
so much as it was possible to learn by the most diligent inquiry has been
told； and it runs out into Egypt。 Now Egypt lies nearly opposite to the
mountain districts of Kilikia； and from thence to Sinope； which lies upon
the Euxine Sea； is a journey in the same straight line of five days for a
man without encumbrance； and Sinope lies opposite to the place where the
Ister runs out into the sea： thus I think that the Nile passes through the
whole of Libya and is of equal measure with the Ister。
Of the Nile then let so much suffice as has been said。 Of Egypt
however I shall make my report at length； because it has wonders more in
number than any other land； and works too it has to show as much as any
land； which are beyond expression great： for this reason then more shall be
said concerning it。
The Egyptians in agreement with their climate； which is unlike any
other； and with the river； which shows a nature different from all other
rivers； established for themselves manners and customs in a way opposite
to other men in almost all matters： for among them the women frequent
the market and carry on trade； while the men remain at home and weave；
and whereas others weave pushing the woof upwards； the Egyptians push
it downwards： the men carry their burdens upon their heads and the
women upon their shoulders： the women make water standing up and the
men crouching down： they ease themselves in their houses and they eat
without in the streets； alleging as reason for this that it is right to do
secretly the things that are unseemly though necessary； but those which are
not unseemly； in public： no woman is a minister either of male or female
divinity； but men of all； both male and female： to support their parents the
sons are in no way compelled； if they do not desire to do so； but the
daughters are forced to do so； be they never so unwilling。 The priests of
the gods in other lands wear long hair； but in Egypt they shave their heads：
among other men the custom is that in mourning those whom the matter
concerns most nearly have their hair cut short； but the Egyptians； when
deaths occur； let their hair grow long； both that on the head and that on the
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chin； having before been close shaven： other men have their daily living
separated from beasts； but the Egyptians have theirs together with beasts：
other men live on wheat and on barley； but to any one of the Egyptians
who makes his living on these it is a great reproach； they make their bread
of maize； which some call spelt： they knead dough with their feet and clay
with their hands； with which also they gather up dung： and whereas other
men； except such as have learnt otherwise from the Egyptians； have their
members as nature made them； the Egyptians practice circumcision： as to
garments； the men wear two each and the women but one： and whereas
others make fast the rings and ropes of the sails outside the ship； the
Egyptians do this inside： finally in the writing of characters and reckoning
with pebbles； while the Hellenes carry the hand from the left to the right；
the Egyptians do this from the right to the left； and doing so they say that
they do it themselves rightwise and the Hellenes leftwise： and they use
two kinds of characters for writing； of which the one kind is called sacred
and the other common。
They are religious excessively beyond all other men； and with regard
to this they have customs as follows：they drink from cups of bronze and
rinse them out every day； and not some only do this but all： they wear
garments of linen always newly washed； and this they make a special
point of practice： they circumcise themselves for the sake of cleanliness；
preferring to be clean rather than comely。 The priests shave themselves all
over their body every other day； so that no lice or any other foul thing may
come to be upon them when they minister to the gods； and the priests wear
garments of linen only and sandals of papyrus； and any other garment they
may not take nor other sandals； these wash themselves in cold water twice
in a day and twice again in the night； and other religious services they
perform （one may almost say） of infinite number。 They enjoy also good
things not a few； for they do not consume or spend anything of their own
substance； but there is sacred bread baked for them and they have each
great quantity of flesh of oxen and geese coming in to them each day； and
also wine of grapes is given to them； but it is not permitted to them to taste
of fish： beans moreover the Egyptians do not at all sow in their land； and
those which they grow they neither eat raw nor boil for food； nay the
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priests do not endure even to look upon them； thinking this to be an
unclean kind of pulse： and there is not one priest only for each of the gods
but many； and of them one is chief…priest； and whenever a priest dies his
son is appointed to his place。
The males of the ox kind they consider to belong to Epaphos； and on
account of him they test th