author's preface. xi 



the result of an enterprise engaged in, solely with 

 a view to make it subservient to the public good. 



The work has been moulded into the form of 

 a relation, as best adapted to a book of travels. 

 There is a pleasure in laying hold of a traveller's 

 hand, in making one in his parties, in partaking 

 of his fatigues and dangers, as well as in enjoying 

 with him the success with which his researches 

 are crowned. But this relation has not the dry- 

 ness of a journal or of an itinerary. Observations, 

 elucidations, general reflections, relieve it from 

 such a tiresome monotony. 



It was the Author's intention to have <riven a 

 new map of Egypt, more accurate than any one 

 hitherto exhibited; but he had not time sufficient 

 for executing his idea ; he has therefore adopted 

 D'Anville's chart, as the least defective which he 

 has had an opportunity of inspecting, though as- 

 suredly it leaves ample room for improvement. 

 Drawings exact, and taken on the spot, represent 

 objects of various kinds, most of them not gene- 

 rally known ; the singular figures discovered in 



the 



