376 Letters of an African Traveller. 



throug^h Cilicia, I ascended Libanus once more, which I was 

 delighted to contemplate amidst the horrors of the winter, and, 

 descending to the Beritus by Phoenicia, the pleasant Philistia, 

 and the wearisome Etam, I returned to the Nile. 



After one day's repose, I went to offer my personal tribute to 

 the Pyramids, and d-propos of these heaps, whilst I was writing 

 my name upon the third called Phrine, I perceived that Fre- 

 diani was the anagram of Dia Frine. 



I then returned to Cairo, and as the pestilential scourge was 

 beginning to mow down human victims, instead of remaining 

 there I thought better to continue my journey, and three days 

 of sand made me ejaculate Dulce videre Suez. 



Having admired the progress and decrease of the waters, I 

 put myself on board an India ship, commanded by the excel- 

 lent Captain Laudale; and embarking afterwards in a small 

 boat, I sailed as far as Der Essafran, where it is believed that 

 Israel passed over, and traversing almost in right line the 

 famous sea, I approached Del el Hamman. 



Departing by the waters of Suez, I had ordered my Arabs 

 to wait for me at a place indicated, and judge of my surprise 

 upon my arrival to find no one there ! 



The solitude of the place, the inefficacy of the bark to con- 

 tinue as far as Tor, the wind contrary for my return to Suez, 

 the want of provisions and water particularly, were the mournful 

 thoughts that sat heavy at my heart. 



But that immutable eternal Providence, ever present where 

 he least appears so, but where most necessary, caused in an 

 instant my guides to approach ; whence by the path of the 

 people elect, I trod upon Paran and Sin, and sighing, arrived 

 at the sides of these mountains, which are Sinai and Horeb. 



The first idea I conceived when for the first time I heard 

 of Mount Libanus, was that of an isolated mountain, and 

 in such respect all the ideas of men are alike, whence I shall 

 call it the Country of Libany instead of Mount Libanus ; 

 that country as large almost as our Abruzzo, and larger than 

 our Tyrol, which comprises luxuriant valleys, fertile meadows, 

 flowing rivers, beautiful hills, very high mountains, populous 



