THE SOURCE OF THK NILE. 17 



to my correfpondents and friends. Prepared now for any 

 enterprife, I left with eagernefs the thread-bare inquiries 

 into the meagre remains, of this once-famous capital of 

 Egypt. 



The journey to Rofetto is always performed by land, as 

 the mouth of the branch of the Nile leading to Rofetto, call- 

 ed the Bogaz*, is very fhallow and dangerous to pafs, and 

 often tedious ; befides, nobody wifhes to be a partner for 

 any time in a voyage with Egyptian failors, if he can pof- 

 libly avoid it. 



The journey by land is alfo reputed dangerous, and 

 people travel burdened with arms, which they are deter- 

 mined never to ufe. 



For my part, I placed my fafety, in my difguife, and my 

 behaviour. We had all of us piftols at our girdles, againft 

 an extremity ; but our lire-arms of a larger fort, of which 

 we had great flore, were fent with our baggage, and other 

 inftruments, by the Bogaz to Rofetto. I had a fmall lance, 

 called a Jerid, in my hand, my fervants were without any 

 vifible arms. 



We left Alexandria in the afternoon, and about three 

 miles before arriving at Aboukeer, we met a man, in ap- 

 pearance of fome confequence, going to Alexandria. 



Vol. I. C As 



* Means a narrow cr (hallow entrance of a river from the ocean. 



