THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 563 
tliis day; but was always overpowered by a:cool breeze av 
north, : 
Ow the rgth we left the weft end of the wood; or rather 
continued the whole length of it, and at a quarter paft eight 
in the evening arrived.at the well. It is about four fas 
thoms deep,. but the {pring not very abundant. We drain- 
ed it feveral times, and were obliged to wait its filling agains 
Thefe laft two days, fince we were at El Cowie, we had feen . 
more verdure than wehad altogether fince we left Barbar. . 
Here, particularly at Terfowey, the acacia-trees are tall and 
verdant, but the mountains on each.fide appear black and: 
barren beyond imagination. . 
As foon'as we alighted at Terfowey; and had ‘chofen 2° 
proper place where: our-camels could feed, we unloaded 
our baggage near them, and fent the-men to clean the well, 
and wait the filling of the fkins: We had lighted: a large 
fire. The nights were-exceflively cold, though the thermo- 
meter was-at'53°; and that cold:occafioned me inexpreffible 
pain in my feet, now {welled to’@ monftrous fize, and: eve- 
rywhere inflamed and:excoriated. . I had taken upon me the 
charge of the baggage, and: Mahomet, Idris’s young man, 
the care of the-camels; but he too was gone to the well, _ 
though expected to.return immediately... 
A vovsT had arifen in my: mind bythe way, which was 
then giving me great uneafinefs.. If Syene is under the > 
fame meridian with Alexandria, (for fo Eratofthenes con 
ceived.when he attempted to meafure the circumference of 
the~ 
