Others expresly treating hereof, have diversly delivered themselves; _Herodotus_ in his Euterpe makes mention of seven; but carelesly of two thereof; that is _Bolbitinum_, and _Bucolicum_; for these, saith he, were not the natural currents, but made by Art for some occasional convenience. _Strabo_ in his Geography naming but two, _Peleusiacum_ and _Canopicum_, plainly affirmeth there were many more than seven; _Inter hæc alia quinque_, etc. There are (saith he) many remarkable towns within the currents of Nile, especially such which have given the names unto the ostiaries thereof, not unto all, for they are eleven, and four besides, but unto seven and most considerable; that is _Canopicum_, _Bolbitinum_, _Selenneticum_, _Sebenneticum_, _Pharniticum_, _Mendesium_, _Taniticum_ and _Pelusium_: wherein to make up the number, one of the artificial chanels of _Herodotus_ is accounted. _Ptolomy_ an _Egyptian_, and born at the _Pelusian_ mouth of _Nile_, in his Geography maketh nine: and in the third Map of _Africa_, hath unto their mouths prefixed their several names; _Heracleoticum_, _Bolbitinum_, _Sebenneticum_, _Pineptum_, _Diolcos_, _Pathmeticum_, _Mendesium_, _Taniticum_, _Peleusiacum_: wherein notwithstanding there are no less then three different names from those delivered by _Pliny_. All which considered, we may easily discern that Authors accord not either in name or number; and must needs confirm the Judgement of _Maginus_, _de Ostiorum Nili numero et nominibus, valde antiqui scriptores discordant_. Modern Geographers and travellers do much abate of this number, for as _Maginus_ and others observe, there are now but three or four mouths thereof; as _Gulielmus Tyrius_ long ago, and _Bellonius_ since, both ocular enquirers, with others have attested. For below _Cairo_, the River divides it self into four branches, whereof two make the chief and navigable streams, the one running to _Pelusium_ of the Ancients, and now _Damiata_; the other unto _Canopium_, and now _Roscetta_; the other two, saith Mr. _Sandys_ [SN: Sand. Relation.], do run between these; but poor in water. Of those seven mentioned by _Herodotus_, and those nine by _Ptolomy_, these are all I could either see or hear of. Which much confirmeth the testimony of the Bishop of _Tyre_ a diligent and ocular Enquirer; who in his holy war doth thus deliver himself. We wonder much at the Ancients, who assigned seven mouths unto _Nilus_; which we can no otherwise salve, then that by process of time, the face of places is altered, and the river hath lost his chanels; or that our fore-fathers did never obtain a true account thereof.