THE EGYPTIAN SUDAN even so much as a mile or so from the river ; on the edges of these were groups of inhabitants anxiously observing the effect of the inundation on their mud houses, and near them stood fine cows, which watched the scene with their large, solemn eyes. The river itself appeared to great advantage, and was a wonderful sight, and, as one looked at the speed and volume and irresist-ENVIRONS ASSOU ELLAL ASWAN IN 1904.

ible force of the flood of muddy water which spreads life and fertility over the land, it was impossible not to acknowledge the suitability of the seemingly extravagant and exaggerated praises which the ancient Egyptians addressed to Hupi, the god of the Nile. We know now that the composers of such hymns had no exact knowledge of the source of the Nile, and that its origm was to them, as to later nations for centuries, a " mystery " ; but they well understood that the stream which brought them life, and 66