THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 43 



^^5^ 



CHAP. III. 



Leaves Cairo — Embarks on the Nile for Upper Egypt* — Viftts Metrahenny 

 and Mohannan——Reafons for fuppofing this thefttuation of Memphis. 



HAVING now provided every thing necenary, and taken a 

 rather melancholy leave of our very indulgent friends, 

 who had great apprehenfions that we fhould never return; 

 and fearing that our flay till the very excemve heats were 

 paft, might involve us in another difficulty, that of mif- 

 fing the Etefian winds, we fecured a boat to carry us to Fur* 

 Ihout, therefidence ofHamam, the Shekh of Upper Egypt. 



This fort of vefTel is called a Canja, and is one of the 

 moll commodious ufed on any river, being fafe, and expedi- 

 tious at the fame time, though at firft light it has a llrong 

 appearance of danger. 



That on which ~we embarked was about 100 feet from 

 Hern to flem, with two mails, main and foremail, and two 

 monflrous Latine fails ; the main-fail yard being about 200 

 feet in length. 



The flru6ture of this vefTel is eafily conceived, from the 

 jdraught, plan, and fecflion. It is about 30 feet in the beam* 

 and about 90 feet in keel, 



The keel is not flraight, but a portion of a parabola whofe 

 •curve is almofl infenfible to tjfe eye. But it has this good 



F 2 effect 



