through Egypt and Syria, 245 



he fpent at Kahira, in learning the Arabic language ; but 

 ftill judging that he fliould have occafion for an interpreter, 

 he took care to provide a Greek, who, befides his native lan- 

 guage, was acquainted with the Turkifii, Arabic, and Ita- 

 lian : he had alfo with him a Mahomnicdan of the lower 

 clafs of the Kahirines, who, as belongs to that characler, 

 was prepared for every office. Thus provided, he fet out 

 by water on the loth of September, and on the 8th day 

 reached Affiut. Havino; fpent about fourteen days here 

 waiting for a boat, he was at length able to hire one of a 

 moderate fize ; and leaving x\fllut on the 4th of October, 

 arrived on the nth at Girgi, formerly the capital of Upper 

 Kgypt. On the 17th he arrived at Deudera, the ancient 

 Tentyra, where he faw the noted temple, the moll perfe6l 

 fpecinien of Egyptian architeclure now remaining. It is in 

 the form of an oblong fquare, 200 feet by 150, Pococke fays 

 145, and is now almoft buried in the fand. The fame night, 

 about twelve, he reached Ghenne, the ancient Coenc or 

 Coenopolis ; and on the 23d came to Akfor, the ancient 

 Thebes. After paffing three days in and around thefe ruins^ 

 Mr. Brown proceeded on his vovage up the Nile, and on 

 the 31ft arrived at Afluan, the ancient Syene, where he re- 

 mained three days, contriving, if poffible, to purfue his route 

 up the river; but a war having arifen between the Mam- 

 liiks of Upper Egypt and the Caflief of Ibrim, no one was 

 fufl'crcd to pafs from Egypt to Nubia. The caravans had all 

 Seen flopped for many months, and not even a camel could 

 be procured. Our traveller being therefore conltraineJ, with 

 deep regret, to abandon his defign of penetrating to Abyf- 

 fuiia by this route, gave up all hope for that feafon, and 

 began to think of reluming. 



Mr. Brown, therefore, left Afftlan on the 4th of Novem- 

 ber 1792, and, proceeding rapidly down the Nile, arrived at 

 Ghenne on the 7th. From Ghenne he made a fliort excur- 

 fion to Coflir; but he did not tliink it advifcable to Itay 

 long ihercj us the people were highly iuceufed at that time 

 l\ 3 againfi 



