514 TR AVE lis TO DISC OVER 



•at thirty-five minutes pafl three we arrived at Halifoon;. 

 about five miles from the ferry on the eaft fide of the Nile. 

 One mark of the boatmen's attention I cannot but mention : . 

 The weather was very hot, and we had plenty of time ; the 

 water being clear and tempting, I propofed fvvimmingover to 

 the other fide foi the pleafure of bathing ; but they, one and 

 all, oppofed my defign with great violence, and would not 

 fuffer me to undrefs. They faid there was a multitude of 

 crocodiles in the river near that place, and although they 

 were not large enough to kill, or carry off a camel, they 

 very often wounded them, and it would be a wonder if 

 we paffed without feeing them; indeed the laft boat had 

 not reached the fliore before two of them rofe in the mid- 

 dle of the fiream. I made what hafl;e I could to get a gun, 

 and fired at the largeft, but, as far as I could judge, without 

 effe(5t. 



On the sad, at three o'clock in the afternoon we left Ha- - 

 lifoon, and by ten at night came to Halfaia, a large, hand-.' 

 fome, and pleafant town, although built with clay. The 

 houfes are terraffed at the tops, their inhabitants being no 

 longer afraid of the rains, which have been for fome time 

 here very inconfiderable. The Battaheen were encamped 

 near Umdoom, a large village on the fide of the river, about 

 fevcn miles from Halifoon. They are a thievifli, pilfering 

 fet, and we paffed them early in the morning, before it was 

 light. The road is very pleafant, through woods of acacia- 

 trees, interfperfed with large fields covered with bentgrafs. 

 At Umdoom we found troops of women going to their 

 loorning occupation, that of gathering feeds to naake bread. . 



TH£. 



