268 TRAVELS JN Upf'ER 



did not venture to approach us. As thry were so 

 near, however, we could not quit the siiorc, audi 

 was unable to visit the caves, which are cut out of 

 the rock, and which, in all probability, are the la- 

 bours of antiquity. 



Although night approached, the fury of the 

 wind did not abate, and it was impossible for us to 

 remain where we were. We, made a kind of sail 

 with some pieces of blue cloth, part of the dress of 

 our sailors, and steering our course tovvards the op- 

 posite shore, across a swell, which threatened de- 

 struction to our little bark, we arrived at Sahei, a 

 port of Basjoura, and oi Farschout. 



The Reis went ashore to the village ; he imme- 

 diately returned to inform us, that, in consequence 

 of the disturbances which raged in this district, he 

 had been assured that we could not remain be- 

 fore Sahel, without running the risk of being mur- 

 dered. I ordered him to return to the Scheick el Bel- 

 led, and to acquaint him that I was a Kiaschef\ that 

 I laid my injunctions on him to keep a strict watch 

 over our safety, or that he should be answerable for 

 the consequences. There was no occasion to re- 

 peat this message a second time ; the chief of the 

 village himself, with a few attendants, kept guard 

 the whole night near my boat. At daybreak he 

 was very assiduous in his inquiries whether I had 



slept 



