184 TRAVELS IN UPPER 



solitudes of Libya, have assured me they never 

 saw tiiat animal ; and the Cophtish monks, more 

 dangerous in these abandoned and depopulated 

 rciiions than the ferocious animals with which 

 they partake a dwelling-place, have confirmed 

 on this head the testimony of the Bedouins. 



I only passed the night at Neguade^ and left it 

 on the 23d at nine in the morning. Although 

 Jjuxor was distant no more than from eight to nine 

 leagues, and the wind was favourable, we could 

 not reach it on that day, on account of the fre- 

 quent windings of the Nile, which prolong its 

 navicration, and at the same time render it diffi- 

 cult. We found ourselves in very dangerous re- 

 gions, from the great number of robbers, Vv'hose 

 only occupation is to strip travellers, and plunder 

 their boats. We could not think of approaching 

 either bai.k, and I therefore ordered to cast an- 

 chor for the night in the very middle of the river. 

 A large stone served to hold fast my boat, and a 

 sorry rope made of the rind of the palm-tree, was 

 fastened to it by way of cable. During the nfght 

 a skilful swimmer approached us, gliding through 

 the water without the slightest noise ; we kept a 

 good look-out ; he was perceived, and a musket- 

 shot soon torced him to decamp with less precau- 

 tion than he had made use of in advancing to- 

 ward us. 



The 



