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 sycamores. 



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 in a 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 Yampire 

 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 



