24 TRAVELS IN UPPER 



had with him an officer of cavalry, and a counsel- 

 lor of the Chatelet, a whimsical association, and 

 worthy of its author. Citizen Venture, the learned 

 interpreter of the oriental languages, and who is 

 now with the army of Egypt, was likewise embark- 

 ed on this expedition. It was no easy matter to 

 find accommodation for so much company ; it was 

 found necessary to dismount the four sternmost 

 guns, to make cabins on deck, and the powder- 

 room was so encumbered with temporary beds, 

 that it was impossible to turn about in it. 



We sailed with a fair wind, but this was of no 

 long continuance. It presently became contrary, 

 and blew furiously from the east. The heavens, 

 covered with thick clouds, poured down an inces- 

 sant torrent of rain. On the morning of next day, 

 several kinds of birds were seen flying round the 

 vessel. I distinguished among them turtle doves, 

 small ring-collared plovers, and one blongios. 

 Some of those birds perched on the rigging, and 

 were so fatigued and stunned with the tempest, 

 that several plovers * were caught by the hand, 

 and the species of crab- eater ^ known by the name 

 of blongios. 



J o" 



* Pluvier a collier, BufFon, Hist. Nat. des Ois. & petit pluvier 

 « collier des plan, enlum. No. 921. Charadrius hiaticula, Lin. 



f Blongios, Buffon, Hist. Nat. des Ois. & blongios de Suisse t 

 pi. enlum. Nq. 328, Ardca minuta, Lin. 



After 



