AND LOWER EGYPT. I5I 



pleasant an use. The rm, who was a little be- 

 hind, hearing his boat's company roaring aloud, 

 took to his heels, and it was impossible to catch 

 him. The day appeared, and we set sail, in order 

 to pass once more that perilous spot, where the 

 force of the current overthrows the barriers which 

 the land opposes to it on the western side. In 

 front of a little village we saw the master seated 

 on the brink of the river. We landed, in order to 

 make him embark ; but still in apprehension of 

 having his share of a correction which he well 

 deserved, he made the best of his way off. I gave 

 orders that he should be pursued, and he was 

 conducted, or rather carried back, to the boat. 



We again set sail. A violent wind from the 

 north-east, which blew in impetuous squalls, car- 

 ried us to Dendera^ the evening of the 17th. 



At half a league before Dejidera, the bed of the 

 Nile is extremely narrow, and one of its banks is 

 strewed with stones. The Egyptian mariners call 

 this place El Bab, the port. This is one of the 

 most dangerous passes of the navigation of the 

 river, and the inhabitants do not fail to address a 

 prayer to Heaven before they undertake it. 



L 4 



