AND LOWER EGYPT. 299 



have proved fatal to me, and in having escaped 

 a punishment which once appeared unavoidable. 



At some distance below M'lniet, the chain of 

 mountains to the eastward of the Nile, projects 

 into the river, in a mass of rocks lofty and per- 

 pendicular, and causes in the waters a confined 

 and rapid current. It is the mountain of birds, 

 which I have already taken notice of*. On the 

 summit of one of the piles of rock of which it is 

 formed, some solitary Cophts have estabhshed a 

 monastery but little calculated to soften its ru^ed 

 and wild appearance. 



An Immense cut separates this file of rocks from 

 another which they caWDsjebel Ke?'anat (mountain 

 of piles), because in truth the masses of stone 

 appear to be piled one above another. 



We halted on the evening of the 30th near a 

 district covered with date-trees. This natural 

 grove would have appeared beautiful in any situa- 

 tion ; but in the neighbourhood of barren moun- 

 tains, which weary the sight, and scare the imagi- 

 nation, it appeared truly delightful. As soon as 

 we had dropped anchor, theMamelucs who sailed 

 in company with us, came to inquire if I had any 

 ground of complaint ; they obliged the Rets to 



* See page 35 of this volume. 



apologize 



