AND LOWER EGYPT. 233 



The snare was a little too gross, and finding it 

 altogether impossible to trust to such people, I 

 told them, that, unwilling to submit any longer to 

 their roguery, I had given up all thoughts of my 

 journey to Cosseir, This determination did not 

 at all accord with the views of Factor and of the 

 Turk, and they did all they could to persuade me 

 from it. But when I reclaimed the money which 

 I had advanced for a journey now given up, they 

 exclaimed bitterly against me. According to their 

 account, I was still indebted to them for what they 

 had done. I threatened to lay my complaints 

 before the Arabian prince, Ismdin- Ahou-AJi -, they 

 then brought me back five chcquins. I gave up 

 the remaining twenty rather than continue any 

 longer exposed to the plots of these two rascals, 

 and determined to continue my route towards the 

 ruins of the ancient city of Thebes. 



As I was collecting my effects in the sort of 

 chamber which I occupied,! perceived that a species 

 of large wasp, with violet-coloured wings, had built 

 its nest in the inside of the wooden case of a large 

 mariner's compass ; the honey-comb, nearly of an 

 oval form and pierced with a round opening in the 

 middle, was upon the ground ; each cell contained 

 a maggot resembling a small worm, of a meadow- 

 green colour. Around this honey-comb there were 

 others which had been beirun and IcfL unfinished. 



The 



