The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 2Browne, Thomas, Sir
Religion
The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 2
Browne, Thomas, Sir
Christianity; Ethics; Religion and medicine
For first, In the deliniations of many Maps of _Africa_, the River
_Niger_ exceedeth it about ten degrees in length, that is, no less then
six hundred miles. For arising beyond the Æquator it maketh Northward
almost 15 degrees, and deflecting after Westward, without Meanders,
continueth a strait course about 40 degrees; and at length with many
great currents disburdeneth it self into the Occidental Ocean. Again, if
we credit the descriptions of good Authors, other Rivers excell it in
length, or breadth, or both. _Arrianus_ in his history of _Alexander_,
assigneth the first place unto the River _Ganges_; which truly according
unto latter relations, if not in length, yet in breadth and depth may be
granted to excell it. For the magnitude of _Nilus_ consisteth in the
dimension of longitude, and is inconsiderable in the other; what stream
it maintaineth beyond _Syene_ or _Asna_, and so forward unto its
original, relations are very imperfect; but below these places, and
farther removed from the head, the current is but narrow, and we read in
the History of the _Turks_, the _Tartar_ horsemen of _Selimus_ swam over
the _Nile_ from _Cairo_, to meet the forces of _Tonumbeus_. Baptista
Scortia expresly treating hereof, [SN: _De natura et incremento Nili._]
preferreth the River of _Plate_ in _America_; for that as _Maffeus_ hath
delivered, falleth into the Ocean in the latitude of forty leagues; and
with that source and plenty that men at Sea do tast fresh water, before
they approach so near as to discover the land. So is it exceeded by that
which by _Cardan_ is termed the greatest in the world, that is the River
_Oregliana_ in the same continent; which as _Maginus_ delivereth, hath
been navigated 6000 miles; and opens in a chanel of ninety leagues
broad; so that, as _Acosta_, an ocular witness recordeth, they that sail
in the middle, can make no land of either side.
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