42 GEBEL E' TATE. 



western bank being highly cultivated and dotted at short in- 

 tervals with mud villages, invariably surrounded by groups of 

 palms and sont trees, while beyond lies the Libyan desert, 

 on the borders of which stand the many pyramids which 

 impart such a striking character to the scenery ; on the 

 eastern bank the white, flat-topped range of hills separate the 

 cultivated land from the Arabian desert within a couple of 

 miles from the river's bank. Though for many miles the 

 antiquarian and sightseer will meet but little to attract his 

 attention, the sportsman will find this by no means a bad 

 part of the river for Ducks, Geese, and Sandgrouse or Snipe 

 in the winter, and for Quail after the middle of March. 

 Near Golosaneh there are some very good places for Geese and 

 the larger birds, such as Pelicans, Cranes, &c. ; while in the 

 rough halfa grass, which covers much of the land near that 

 town, and on the island opposite, Sandgrouse are at times 

 extremely plentiful. 



On passing Golosaneh, after a small bend in the river, we 

 come to Gebel e' Tayr, where there is a Coptic convent, 

 notorious in former times for the infamous trade carried on 

 there in preparing guardians of the harems. Here the 

 rocks rise precipitously from the water's edge, presenting a 

 scene of wild grandeur, which, when coloured by the setting 

 sun, and softened down by the mellow tints of the western 

 sky, forms a most impressive landscape, while the rich verdure 

 of the opposite bank contrasts well with tlie bleakness of 

 these cliffs. The inhabitants of the convent are hthe, well- 

 built men, and wonderfully active in the water ; they swim 

 off to the passing vessels to ask for backsheesh, making the 

 Christian religion which they profess a plea for charity. A 

 few days later we pass Minieh, the chief town of Middle 



