90 THE BOY CRUSADERS.

has attempted to jearn whence if, came, by sending —
experienced persons to follow the course ot it.’

‘Yes,’ said Walter, eageriy

‘ These persons, on their return,’ continued Beltran,
‘reported that they had followed the river till they
came to a large mountain of perpendicular rocks,
which it was impossible to climb, and over these
rocks fell the water. And it seemed to them that on
the top of this mountain were many trees; and they
saw strange wild beasts, such as lions, elephants, and
other sorts, which came to gaze at them. And, not
daring to advance further, they returned to the
sultan.’

‘And this is all that is known?’ said Walter.

‘Yes,’ replied Beltran. ‘Where the Nile enters
Egypt, it spreads in branches over the plain. One
of them flows to Damietta; a second to Alexandria ;
a third to Tunis; and a fourth to Rexi. About St.
Remy’s Day it expands itself into seven branches,
and thence flows over the plains. When the waters
retire, the labourers appear and till the ground with
ploughs without wheels, and then sow wheat, barley,
rice, and cumin, which succeed so well that nowhere
are finer crops.’

‘And whence,’ asked Walter, ‘comes this yearly
increase of water ?’

‘I cannot tell, except that it comes from God’s
mercy. Some say that this overflowing is caused by
heavy rains in Abyssinia; but many Arabs believe
that a drop of dew falls into the river, and causes
the inundation ; and some declare they have seen it
fall, like a star. ‘The nignt when it falls is called |