a44 TRAVELS IN UPPER 



it blew down large particles, the greater part of 

 which fell upon our bodies. I in particular re- 

 ceived upon me a large iron pike which the shaking 

 of our roost tore from the ceiling. If the point 

 had been turned towards me, it must have pierced 

 my body. At length, in the midst of the noise 

 with which the wind deafened us, we heard the 

 tumbling of a wall of the cottage, which very for- 

 tunately burst outwards. Fearful of being crushed 

 by what remained, we hastened out of this place of 

 wretchedness and suffering, and passed half of the 

 night walking in the open air, with our muskets 

 upon our shoulders. 



The Sche'ick el Belled of Gournei (who in Egypt 

 is the chief man of the place, and nearly the same 

 as the mayors of the villages were in France) had 

 me called to his house. He was afflicted with a 

 disorder which could not be cured except by a dif- 

 ficult operation. I took care not to confess to himi 

 that his cure was beyond my skill ; I gave him some 

 medicines which could do him neither good nor 

 harm, but from which, however, it was essential 

 to our safety to promise him the best effects. 



I found a physician of the country by the side of 

 the patient. He for ever carried his knowledge of 

 physic under his arm. It consisted of a large vo- 

 lume written in the Arabic language, containing 



receipts 



