204 TRAVELS IN UPPER 



by a boat, which was perhaps the least safe and 

 the most incommodious of all ferries. The mouth 

 of this ancient branch of the Nile is very much 

 straitened, and formed by a bar of sand. The 

 goelands* graze at all times the surface of the 

 water, to surprise the small fry from the sea which 

 enter by it ; I have likewise seen there the coot-j~ 

 and the pelican +. On the eastern bank is a vast 

 square building, the construction of which is si- 

 milar to that of the French factory at Alexandria ; 

 it is similar to that of all the caravanseras in 

 Egypt, hockals ; but in giving them the name of 

 inn§, it must be allowed that certain travellers 

 have done rather too much honour to a place 

 where there is absolutely nothing else to be had 

 but a well of detestable water. 



This place is named Maadie, which signifies 

 passage. With an intention to discover some 

 vestiges of the ancient Heraclea, the position of 

 which Dr. Shaw determines by that of Maadie, I 

 visited with all the accuracy of observation this 

 building, as well as its environs ; but whether it 



* Mouette cendree. Buffon, Hist. Nat. des Ois. — Larus canus. 

 Lin. 



f Foulque. Buffon, Hist. Nat. des Ois. & pl.enlum. No. 197. 

 — Fulica atra. Lin. 



% Pelican. Buffon, Hist. Nat. des Ois. & pi. enlum. No. 87. 

 •~~Pelicanus onacratulus. Lin. 



§ Cornelius Le Bruyn. 



be 



