i S o TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



^ar^^w^ 



CHAR VII. 



Arrives at Sycne — Goes to fee the Cataracl — Remarkable Tombs — the 

 Jit nation of Syene — The Aga propofcs a Vi/lt to Delr olid Vorim — The 

 Author returns to Kcnne. 



WE failed on the 20th, with the wind favouring us, till 

 about an hour before fun-rife, and about nine o'clock 

 came to an anchor on the fouth end of the palm groves, 

 and north end of the town of Syene, nearly oppolite to an 

 ifland in which there is a fmall handfome Egyptian temple, 

 pretty entire. It is the temple of * Cnupbis, where formerly 

 was the Nilometer. 



Adjoining to the palm trees was a very good comfort- 

 able houfe, belonging to Huflein Schourbatchie, the man 

 that ufed to be fent from that place to Cairo, to receive the 

 pay of the janiiTaries in garrifon at Syene, upon whom too I 

 had credit for a very fmall lum. 



The reafons of a credit in fuch a place are three : Firft, 

 in cafe of ficknefs, or purchafe of any antiquities : Secondly, 

 that you give the people an idea (a very ufeful one) that 

 you carry no money about with you : Thirdly, that your 



money 



* Strabo, lib. xvii. p. 944= 



