Thirdly, Divers conceptions there are concerning its increment or inundation. The first unwarily opinions, that this encrease or annual overflowing is proper unto _Nile_, and not agreeable unto any other River; which notwithstanding is common unto many Currents of _Africa_. For about the same time the River _Niger_ and _Zaire_ do overflow; and so do the Rivers beyond the mountains of the Moon, as _Suama_, and _Spirito Santo_. And not only these in _Africa_, but some also in _Europe_ and _Asia_; for so it is reported of _Menan_ in _India_, and so doth _Botero_ report of _Duina_ in _Livonia_; and the same is also observable in the River _Jordan_ in _Judea_; for so is it delivered, that _Jordan_ overfloweth all his banks in the time of harvest. The effect indeed is wonderful in all, and the causes surely best resolvable from observations made in the Countries themselves, the parts through which they pass, or whence they take their Original. That of _Nilus_ hath been attempted by Many, and by some to that despair of resolution, that they have only referred it unto the Providence of God, and his secret manuduction of all things unto their ends. [SN: The cause of the overflowing of Nilus.] But divers have attained the truth, and the cause alledged by _Diodorus_, _Seneca_, _Strabo_, and others, is allowable; that the inundation of _Nilus_ in _Egypt_ proceeded from the rains in _Æthiopia_, and the mighty source of waters falling towards the fountains thereof. For this inundation unto the _Egyptians_ happeneth when it is winter unto the _Æthiopians_; which habitations, although they have no cold Winter (the Sun being no farther removed from them in Cancer, then unto us in Taurus) yet is the fervour of the air so well remitted, as it admits a sufficient generation of vapors, and plenty of showers ensuing thereupon. This Theory of the Ancients is since confirmed by experience of the Moderns; by _Franciscus Alvarez_, who lived long in those parts, and left a description of _Æthiopia_; affirming that from the middle of June unto September, there fell in his time continual rains. As also _Antonius Ferdinandus_, who in an Epistle written from thence, and noted by _Codignus_, affirmeth, that during the winter, in those Countries there passed no day without rain.