aO TRAVELS IN UPPEK, 



CHAP. XXXIX. 



Departure from aric'ient Cairo — Scheick Ihnann — - 



Qiiarrics — Montis i tries Fishes and Birds 



Whirlwinds and water-spouls — Watering of the 

 ground — Particulars of the voyage — Houses of the 

 •villages of Upper Egypt — Carthamus — Sudden 

 gust of ivind from the south — Benisouef — Accident 

 on the voyag e — Mountains — Manner in which the 

 women of Upper Egypt carry water. 



It was not without considerable trouble that I 

 collected my reis and his sailors, who were busy 

 conversing with their acquaintances, and never 

 thinking about the repairs necessary to the boat. 

 I had still more difficulty to make them resolve on 

 departing. We quitted ancient Cairo on the even- 

 ing of the same day that we arrived there. Afresh 

 breeze from the north had succeeded to the scorch- 

 ing and contrary wind of the south. Two immense 

 sails disposed in hares-ears * drove on our light 

 hanja with great rapidity ; and her prow, whitened 

 by the foam of the waves, opened for itself an easy 

 passage, notwithstanding the resistance of the cur- 



* This is the name given to the arrangement of two triangular 

 sails, when the one is stretched lo the starboard side, and the 

 other to the larboard, r 



rent. 



