§0 TRAVELS IN UPPER 



is difHcult and dangerous. I met with the agent 

 of All, Kiaschtf o( Manfehut: he was a fat coun- 

 tryman, full of frankness and gaiety. He conduct- 

 ed me to his master's house, and obliged me to 

 take possession of it. He made provision with 

 the greatest attention for all my wants, and pro-^ 

 mised to come frequently to see me. This house 

 was spacious, and well laid out; in front there 

 was a large enclosed court. Excepting the por- 

 ter, no person inhabited it. We could not have 

 been more comfortably lodged, nor, at the same 

 time, more tranquil, or in greater security ; the 

 house of a Kiaschef being a respected asylum. 



I had no great reason to be pleased with my 

 boat's company. Having besides a design of pass- 

 ing some time at Sloiit, I gave my reis his dismis- 

 sion. He acted like all other bad servants, who com- 

 plain incessantly of the services exacted of them, 

 and yet make supplication to remain, when you 

 seem to enter into their views by discharging them. 



SiQut is one of the largest cities in Upper Egypt! i 

 It is built at the distance of a quarter of a league on 

 the west side of the Nile, on an artificial eminence, 

 and close to a steep mountain. A canal conducts 

 thither the waters of the river, which you cross by a 

 very pretty Gothic bridge of three arches, composed 



of 



