6 



him in an expedition to upper Egypt. This ex- 

 pedition was to last only eight months : provid- 

 ed with astronomical instruments and able 

 draughtsmen, we were to ascend the Nile as far 

 as Assouan, after minutely examining the posi- 

 tions of the Said, between Tentyris and the ca- 

 taracts. Though my views had not hitherto 

 been fixed on any region beyond the tropics, I 

 could not resist the temptation of visiting coun- 

 tries so celebrated in the annals of human civili- 

 zation. I therefore accepted this proposition, 

 but with the express condition, that on our re- 

 turn to Alexandria, I should be at liberty to 

 continue my journey through Syria and Palestine. 

 I directed henceforth my studies in conformity 

 to this new project, which I afterward found use- 

 ful, when I examined the relations between the 

 barbarous monuments of Mexico, and those be- 

 longing to the nations of the old world. I thought 

 myself on the point of embarking for Egypt, when 

 political events forced me to abandon a plan, 

 which promised me so much satisfaction. The 

 situation of the East was such, that no individual 

 could hope to pursue operations, which even in 

 the most peaceful times often expose the travel- 

 ler to the suspicion of it's governments. 



An expedition of discoveries in the Southern 

 Ocean, under the direction of Captain Baudin, 

 was then preparing in France. The first plan was 

 great, bold, and worthy of being executed by a 



