u6 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



of Upper Egypt, each of which formerly had its particular- 

 prince. But his interefl was great at Conftantinople, where- 

 he applied directly for what he wanted, infomuch as to give 

 a jealoufy to the Beys of Cairo. He had in farm from the 

 Grand Signior almoft the whole country, between Siout and 

 Syene, or AfTouan. I believe this is the Shekh of Upper Egypt, 

 whom Mr Irvine fpeaks of fo gratefully. He was betrayed, 

 and murdered fometime after, by one of the Beys whom heu 

 had protected in his own country. 



While we were at Furfhout, there happened a very ex- 

 traordinary phenomenon. It rained the whole night, and 

 till about nine o'clock next morning ; and the people be- 

 gan to be very apprehenfive leafl the whole town lhould be 

 dcilroyed. It is a perfect prodigy to fee rain here ; and; 

 the prophets faid it portended a difTolution of government, 

 which was juftly verified foon afterwards, and at that time: 

 indeed, was extremely probable. 



Furshout is in lat i6° 3' 30"; above that, to the foutli- 

 ward, on the fame plain, is another large village, belonging 

 to Shekh Ifmael, a nephew of Shekh Hamam. It is a large: 

 town, built with clay like Furfhout, and furrounded with 

 groves of palm trees, and very large plantations of fugar. 

 canes. Here they make fugar., 



Shekh Ismael was a very pleafant and agreeable man,, 

 but in bad health, having a violent afthma, and fometimes. 

 pleuretic complaints, to be removed by bleeding only. He 

 had given thefe friars a houfe for a convent in Badjoura;. 

 but as they had not yet taken pofTeilion of it, he defired me. 

 to come and flay there.. 



Friar, 



