THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 99 



refufcd them, from a fcruple leaft it would give umbrage 

 to the natives. The fear that it mould expofe their own ig- 

 norance and idlenefs, I mull think, entered a little into the 

 confideration. 



They received us civilly, and that was juft all. I think 

 I never knew a number of priefts met together, who differ- 

 ed fo little in capacity and knowledge, having barely a ro- 

 tine of fcholaftic difputation, on every other fubject in- 

 conceivably ignorant. But I underftood afterwards, that 

 they were low men, all Italians ; fome of them had been 

 barbers, and fome of them tailors at Milan ; they affected 

 to be all Anti-Copernicans, upon fcripture principles, for 

 they knew no other aflronomy. 



These priefts lived in great eafe and fafety, were much, 

 protected and favoured by this Arab prince Hamam ; and 

 their acting as phyficians reconciled them to the people. 

 They told me there were about eight hundred catholics in 

 the town, but I believe the fifth part of that number would 

 never have been found, even fuch catholics as they are. 

 The reft of them were Cophts, and Moors, but a very few 

 of the latter, fo that the miiuonaries live perfectly unmo- 

 :]efted. 



There was a manufactory of coarfe cotton cloth in the town, 

 to confiderable extent; and great quantity of poultry, efteemed 

 the bell in Egypt, was bred here, and fent down to Cairo. The 

 reafon is plain, the great export from Achmim is wheat ; all 

 the country about it is fown with that grain, and the crops 

 arc fuperior to any in Egypt. Thirty-two grains pulled from 

 the ear was equal to forty-nine of the beft Barbary wheat 



N 2 gathered 



