_A DISCOURSE ABOUT THE CAUSES OF THE INUNDATION OF THE NILE_, in _French_. The Author of this Book is Monseiur _dela Chambre_, who being perswaded from several Circumstances, that accompany the Overflowing of this River, that it cannot proceed from Rain, ventures to assign for a Cause of _it_, and of all the other effects that happen at the time of its swelling, the _Niter_, wherewith that water abounds. The discourse having six parts, the Author endeavours to shew in the _First_, that the Waters of the _Nile_ are Nitrous, explicating the Nature of Salt, and Saltpeter, and imputing the fertility of the Earth, as well us the fecundity of Animals, to Salt. Where he shews, that all things, that serve to improve Land, are full of Salt; and that 'tis observ'd, that grain steep'd in Vrine, before sowing, rises sooner, and becomes fuller and stronger, than else. Adding, that that, which renders the Seed of Animals prolifick, is, that one of the _Spermatick_ veins hath its Origine from the _Emulgent_, through which the Nitrous and Saline Serosities, that discharge themselves into the Kidneys and Bladder, do pass. In the _Second_, he examins, what is Fermentation, and how 'tis perform'd; affirming, that, what thrusts forth Plants in the Spring, is, that the Earth being fermented by the _Niter_, it harbours, the Nitrous spirits insinuate themselves into their Pores. In the _Third_ he treats of all the Circumstances, observable in the Inundation of the Nile. 'Tis affirm'd, that 3 or 4 days before that River begins to overflow, all its water is troubled: that then there falls a certain Dew, which hath a fermenting vertue, and leavens a Paste exposed to the Air: that the Mud, which has been drawn out of the water, grows heavier, when the overflowing begins, then it was before, and that by the increase of the weight of that Mud, they judge of the greatness of the approaching inundation. The Author pretends, that {252} the Niter, which the _Nile_ is stored with, is the cause of all these strange effects, and of many others, by him alledged. For, _saith he_, when the Nitre is heated by the heat of the Sun, it ferments, and mingling with the water, troubles it, and swells it, and makes it pass beyond its banks; after the same manner, as the Spirits in new Wine render it troubled, and make it boyle in the vessel. And it seems not likely to him, that the Mud, found in the _Nile_, should come a far off; for then it would at last so raise the banks of this River, that it would not be able to overflow them any longer. Whereas 'tis more than 2000 years, that the banks thereof are not grown higher, there being now requisite but 16. cubits for overflowing the Land, no more than there was in the time of _Herodotus_. Which shews, _saith he_, that this Mud is nothing but a volatil _Niter_, which exhaling, doth not increase the Earth. As for the _AEgyptian_ Dew, and the increase of the weight of the Mud, he adscribes them to the same Cause. For the spirits of