AND LOWER EGYPT. 183 



** forests, and in almost all the deserts of the 

 ** earth, which devour living animals, and even 

 •* feed on the vilest garbage *," can it be ima- 

 gined that the mountains and deserts of Egypt 

 would yield them suitable retreats or nourish- 

 ment ? 



However powerful an inference deduced from 

 coinciding circumstances may be, when, upon 

 comparing them, the observer is rarely deceived 

 in the consequences which result, and however 

 forcible those proofs in support of Pliny's opinion, 

 which both what I have seen and read induces me 

 to adopt ; it must nevertheless be admitted, that 

 a great number of authorities leave no doubt as 

 to the existence of bears in Africa. 



An acquaintance with the real position of the 

 ancient city of Papremis, where the bear was more 

 honoured than elsewhere, would not do away my 

 doubts, if any remaimd : for even supposing that 

 it was not remote from the district of Nitria, or 

 the desert of St. Macaria, as Mr. Pauw conjectures, 

 the same difficulty still remains. Indeed, among 

 the many animals which I have met with in iliis 

 desert, I did not once see the bear. The Be- 

 douins, accustomed to frequent that part of the 



* BufFon, Natural History of Quadrupeds, article Rc/vr. 



N 4 solitudes 



