AND LOWER EGYPT. II5 



Soiihaje, at seven leagues distance from Tiihta, 

 is a large village, built at nearly a quarter of a 

 leao[ue from the brink of the river. Above, a 

 larse canal receives the waters of the Nile, in 

 order to convey it into the plains to the westward. 

 The Kiaschef of Souhaje requested me to sup and 

 to sleep at his house. Plis politeness did not 

 quiet the uneasiness with which the idea of the 

 loss of my companions and of my baggage, in a 

 country where I had no resource to hope for, 

 cruelly tormented me. 



The next morning, before daybreak, I went 

 out in order to cross the Nile, and to go to Ech" 

 7?i'imm, which is on the eastern shore. I learnt 

 from the master of the passage-boat, that my 

 companions and their camels had arrived there the 

 day before, at a very early hour. The camel-dri- 

 vers had carried them forward by another route, 

 shorter than that which I had taken, and length- 

 ened out, by penetrating too far into the land. 



On my arrival at Echmimm, a city built at a full 

 half league from the Nile, I hastened immediately 

 to the convent of Italian monks for the propaga- 

 tion of the faith, where my companions knew we 

 were to go. 1 found them, in their turn, very un- 

 easy on my account, and just on the point of re- 

 crossing the river in search of me. They gave me 



I 2 aa 



