300 EXTRACTS FROM 
path among dangerous crags, flat rocks, and loose stones 
passing many graves and skeletons, before I got to the Moham- 
medan cemetery. This city of the Moslem dead, with its 
remarkable mausoleums, is very large and lies westward of 
Siut, extending from the flourishing gardens of the cultivated 
land into the barren desert. 
I now walked back to the town and sauntered about. its 
outskirts, observing the life of the place and shooting a few 
of the Egyptian Vultures which had assembled in great num- 
bers near the killing-yards, and then returned through the 
better parts of the town to dine on board the steamer. 
At sunset we all rode out again to the foot of the mountain, 
and stationed ourselves at various points, some of the gentle- 
men going to the rock-tombs, while I concealed myself in one 
of the buildings of the Mohammedan cemetery. It was a 
lovely evening, all was still, and only a gentle breeze rustled 
in the leafy tops of the syeamores. 
Unfortunately no four-footed creatures came to my hiding- 
place, but I saw in the distance more than twenty great 
vultures flying one after another to roost ina high cliff. It 
was amusing to see how these birds quarrelled about their 
sleeping-quarters, for naturally they did not care to sit below 
each other, and it was some time before they all managed to 
squat side by side on a long ledge of the rock. 
I had to leave the cemetery in an hour, as it was getting 
nearly time for us to continue our journey. My companions, 
whom I joined at the Bahr Yusuf, had seen jackals and 
even a large wolf, but all unluckily out of shot among the 
rocks. The Grand Duke had also observed a Vampire 
coming out of a tomb, the disgusting creature being as large 
as a raven, 
We now rode quickly back to the landing-place, where we 
bade a hearty farewell to our worthy Admiral and the good 
ship, which had served as our abode during such delightful 
