416 



JOURNAL RELATING TO NUBIA. 



under a shady palm-tree on a carpet, surrounded by some dirty half- 

 naked attendants. He rose on my approaching him, bade me sit 

 down by him, and placed a cushion under my elbow. His visit to 

 the village (named Ouffeddoonee,) was for the purpose of passing 

 some days here with two of his wives, of whom he is said to have 

 thirty living in different parts of his territory, and among whom he 

 divides his time. He was dressed in a coarse linen shirt and turban ; 

 was without slippers ; he alone of the whole party held a pipe in his 

 hand. I presented him with a telescope and small pocket-knife; 

 these he was at first inclined to refuse, saying I was welcome without 

 an offering. A pipe, dates, and coffee were brought to me. His 

 attendants sat down by us in a circle, and many trifling questions 

 were asked of me by all. My wearing apparel was examined ; I was 

 questioned about my rank, what number of soldiers my king com- 

 manded, how many wives he had, in what garrison I was, how far 

 off, what number of guns it contained, and whether my Pasha, 

 meaning my commanding officer, had power of life and death. 



The Cashief whose name is Hassan is one of three brothers, 

 hereditary chiefs of the country between Philas and Dongola. He is 

 a handsome young man of about twenty-five years of age, and his 

 territory extends from Philae to Deir. He has a nominal absolute 

 power, which however he does not exercise oppressively, nor does he 

 interfere much between the quarrels of the natives. 



He gave me a letter to his son, a boy of ten years of age, left at 

 Deir, from whom I was to receive all necessary protection and 

 assistance ; on my leaving him he presented me with a sheep. Pro- 

 ceeding; hence, we observed the hills to be at a considerable distance 

 from the river ; we arrived at Naboo on the west, where they again 

 appear in rocks of sand-stone. From Naboo the river winds east 

 and west, the hills sometimes receding on one side, and on the other 

 bold rocks reach to the water's edge. 



May 23. — Having sailed part of the night, and the wind con- 

 tinuing fair, we passed Seboo on the west bank, where the propyla of 

 a temple are seen at about two hundred yards from the water-side, 



