AND LOWER EGYPT. 29I 



Mafifelouf, In order to take a quantity of buffaloes 

 on board. I soon perceived the awkwardness of 

 the crew in manoeuvring the vessel. We ran 

 aground near the shore, and they were obliged 

 to labour the remainder of the day, and all night 

 long, before we were clear again. After that, we 

 dropped a little below the spot where we got 

 ashore, in order to take in the buffaloes. We re- 

 mained here again a complete day and night. In 

 the night, however, our ignorant and improvident 

 seamen having neglected the necessary precautions 

 in mooring the boat, the wind, which blew vio- 

 lently, drove her from her cables, and she floated 

 down the stream at the mercy of the waves. Our 

 danger was imminent ; we were close to the 

 mountain of Aboufeda^ a complete ridge of rocks 

 on the bank of the river, and against which the 

 current was with violence impelling us. The un- 

 skilfulness of our seamen could not fail to make us 

 uneasy : in effect it was after many awkward ma- 

 noeuvres, that we were fortunate enough to re- 

 gain the shore from which we had broke loose. 



At length, after the expiration of several days 

 which had interrupted my voyage, we took our 

 departure on the morning of the 27th. Our vessel 

 requiring a great depth of water, we lay close in 

 with the chain of rocks of Ahoufeda, in order to 

 have the advantage of the greatest draught, the 



u 2 river 



