Now These Grains Are Fish, And
From The Grains Which Survive And Are Not Swallowed, The Fish Grow
Which Afterwards Are Bred Up.
Now those of the fish which are caught
as they swim out towards the sea are found to be rubbed on the left
side of the head, but those which are caught as they swim up again are
rubbed on the right side.
This happens to them because as they swim
down to the sea they keep close to the land on the left side of the
river, and again as they swim up they keep to the same side,
approaching and touching the bank as much as they can, for fear
doubtless of straying from their course by reason of the stream. When
the Nile begins to swell, the hollow places of the land and the
depressions by the side of the river first begin to fill, as the water
soaks through from the river, and so soon as they become full of
water, at once they are all filled with little fishes; and whence
these are in all likelihood produced, I think that I perceive. In the
preceding year, when the Nile goes down, the fish first lay eggs in
the mud and then retire with the last of the retreating waters; and
when the time comes round again, and the water once more comes over
the land, from these eggs forthwith are produced the fishes of which I
speak.
Thus it is as regards the fish.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 66 of 134
Words from 18369 to 18620
of 37770
