THE SOURCE OF THE NIL1. £$ 



±%2S&^ 



CHAP. in. 



Leaves Cairo — Embarks on the Nile for Upper Egypt — Vifits Metrahenny 

 andMohannan — Reafons for fuppofing this the filiation of Memphis. 



HAVING now provided every thing neceffary, and taken a 

 rather melancholy leave of our very indulgent friends, 

 "who had great apprehenuons that we fhould never return ; 

 and fearing that our Hay till the very exceffive heats were 

 paft, might involve us in another difficulty, that of mif- 

 fing the Etefian winds, we fecured a boat to carry us to Fur- 

 ihout, therefidence ofHamam,the Shekh of Upper Egypt. 



This fort of veffel is called a Canja, and is one of the 

 moft commodious ufed on any river, being fafe, and expedi- 

 tious at the fame time, though at firft fight it has a ftrong 

 appearance of danger. 



That on which we embarked was about ioo feet from 

 ftern to ftem, with two mails, main and foremaft, and two 

 monftrous Latine fails ; the main-fail yard being about 200 

 feet in length. 



The ftructure of this veffel is eafily conceived, from the 

 draught, plan, and lection. It is about 30 feet in the beam, 

 and about 90 feet in keel. 



The keel is not ftraight, but a portion of a parabola whofe 

 curve is almoft infenfible to the eye. But it has this good 



F 2 effect 



