44 THE CEOCODILE. 



rather, beats time on the darabouca; and some other native 

 plays on a reed-pipe, or else sings. The girls are given 

 tumblers of araki (a very strong liquor), to add spirit to then* 

 dance, and then they begin, walking with small steps towards 

 each other, waving their arms over their heads, and quivering 

 all the time. Such a dance is too simple for a description to give 

 much idea of it ; it is wild and uncivilized-looking, and, when 

 properly danced, is not devoid of attraction. The figures of 

 the women, which are extremely fine, show a suppleness and 

 activity which one cannot fail to admire ; and occasionally one 

 meets with some very handsome faces among the dark-skinned 

 professional dancers, some of whom come from Nubia and 

 Ethiopia, and many from Abyssinia. 



Setting sail again from Sioot, we find the ever tortuous course 

 of the river delays us much ; for, although we sail freely up 

 the first reach, the wind is taken out of our sails by the next 

 bend, up which we have to tack ; thus it happens that we 

 are rarely able to sail for many consecutive hours ; and conse- 

 quently the average pace is very slow, and one can generally 

 keep up with the boat while shooting along the bank. 



Near Soohag there are two large buildings in the moun- 

 tains, about seven miles from the town, known as the White 

 and Red Convents, which, though generally neglected, are 

 worthy of a visit ; and the ornithologist should make the 

 excursion if he is desirous of obtaining Baho ascalaj)Iius, or 

 Corvus umbrinus. Here, at Soohag, begins the Bahr Yoosef, 

 the waters of which fertihze the Fayoom some 250 miles 

 distant. As we ascend the river, we come to the perpen- 

 dicular rocks of Gebel Aboofayda, which rise precipitously 

 out of the water : this is a good locality for meeting with the 

 Crocodile ; and here, during my last tour. Lord Ducie killed 



