588 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER | 
ed compofed of petrified wood, fuch as we had feen in: thei — 
mountains near Coffeir. At a quarter paft eleven, going due- 
N. we entered a narrow valley, in which we pafled-two wells: 
on our left, and following the windings through this valley, 
all of deep fand, we came to a large poolof excellent water, 
called Umgwat, fheltered from the rays of the fun bya large, 
rock which projected over it, the upper part of which was: 
fhaped like a wedge, and was compofed all of green mar-: 
ble, without the f{malleft. variety or. fpot of, other colour; 
in it. 
Turovucu this whole valley, to-day; we had feen the bo-:- 
dies of the Tucorory who had followed Mahomet Towafh,: 
and been fcattered by the Bifhareen, and left to perifh with: 
thirft there. None ofthem, however, as-far as we. could 
obferve, had ever reached this well: Inthe water-we found. 
a bird of the duck kind called Teal, or Widgeon. The Turk: 
I{mael was preparing to fhoot: at it with his blunderbufs, 
but I defired him to refrain, being willing, by its flight, to: 
endeavour to judge fomething of the nearnefs, of the. Nile.. 
We raifed it therefore by fudden .repeated: cries, which. me+. 
thod waslikelytomakeitfeek-its home ftraight,.and abandon 
a place it muft have been a ftranger. to.. The bird: flew 
firaight weft, rifing as he flew, a fure proof: his journey: 
was a long-one, till at laft, being. very high-and ata diftance, 
he vanifhed from our fight, without defcending or feeking | 
to approach the earth ;. from which I drew an «unpleafant- 
inference that we were yet far from the Nile, as was really 
the.cafeL. i , 
Here we threw away the brackifh .water that remained ' 
our girbas, and iked them with the wholefome elemens 
| drawne 
