44 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



effect in failing, that whereas the bed of the Nile, when the 

 water grows low, is full of fand banks under water, the keel 

 under the ilem, where the curve is greatefl, firfl ilrikes up- 

 on thefe banks, and is fail, but the reft of the fhip is afloat ;. 

 fo that by the help of oars, and afliitance of the ilream, 

 furling the fails, you get eafily off; whereas, was the keel 

 ftraight, and the veiTel, going with the preiTure of that im- 

 menfe main-fail, you would be fo fail upon the bank as to 

 lie there.like a wreck for ever.. 



Th i s yard and fair is never lowered. The failors- climbr and 

 furLit as it ilands. When they fhift the fail, they do it with 

 a thick ilick like, a quarter ilaff, which they calL a nobeot, put 

 between the laihing of the yard and the fail ; they then twiffc 

 this Hick round till the fail and yard turn over to the. fide re- 

 quired. 



When I fay tlie yard andfail are never lowered, Imean \ 

 while we are getting up the ilream, before the wind ; for, 

 otherwife, when the veiTel returns, they take out the maf\ 

 lay down the yards, and put by their fails, fo that the; 

 boat defcends like a wreck broadfide forwards ; otherwife 9 \ 

 being fo heavy a-loft, were fhe to touch with her ilem go* 

 ing down the ilream, ihe could not fail to carry away her v 

 mails, and perhaps be ilaved to pieces. 



> The cabin has a very decent and agreeable dining-room^ 

 about twenty feet fquare^ with windows that have clofe 

 and latticed ihutters, fa that you may, open them at will 

 in the day-time, and enjoy the frefhnefs of the air; but? 

 great care muft be taken to keep thefe Ihut at night. 



4 certain 



