161 



by the waters, the verdure, and the sky ; every 

 thing recalls to the traveller sensations, which 

 he has already felt. 



The natural beauties of the mountains so 

 much engaged us, that we perceived very 

 tardily the embarrassment felt by the kind 

 monks, by whom we were entertained. They 

 had but a slender provision of wine and bread ; 

 and although in those high regions both are 

 regarded as belonging to the luxuries of the 

 table, we saw with regret, that our hosts went 

 without them on our account. Our portion of 

 bread had already been diminished three 

 fourths, yet the most violent showers still 

 obliged us to delay our departure for two 

 days. How long did this delay appear ! How 

 we dreaded the sound of the bell, that sum- 

 moned us to the refectory ! The delicate con- 

 duct of the missionaries made us feel sensibly 

 the contrast between our own situation and 

 that of the travellers, who complain of having 

 been robbed of their provision in the convents 

 of the Copts in Upper Egypt. 



We departed at length on the 22d of Septem- 

 ber, followed by four mules, loaded with instru- 

 ments and plants. We had to descend the 

 north-east slope of the calcareous Alps of New 

 Andalusia, which we have called the great 

 chain of the Brigantine and Cocollar. The 

 mean height of this chain scarcely exceeds six 



VOL. III. M 



