EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 27 
curiofity to approach nearer to thefe imaginary ruins ; and 
accordingly forced my horfe into the lake. He, from fatigue 
and weaknefs, or original inability to fwim, foon found himfelf 
entangled, and could not keep his head above water. I fell 
with him, and was unable immediately to detach myfelf : at 
length, when I found myfelf again on dry ground, the circum- 
ftances I was under prevented me from making further ob- 
fervation on this ifland and lake. 
After having vifited this place, we continued our journey 
fouth, according to the agreement made with our guides, but 
found the purfuit equally fruitlefs. After having, at the end of 
the third day, arrived in lat. 28. 40. or nearly fo, we became 
much diftrelTed for water. We remained a whole night in 
fufpenfe concerning our deftiny, when at length a fupply of 
this necelTary refrefhment was found. Not having, however, 
difcovered any thing that bore the leaft refemblance to the 
objedl of our fearch, we were obliged to think of returning, as 
well from the importunity of the Arabs, as from our own 
fatigue and unpleafant fenfations. W^e did fo, and having 
fallen into the ftrait road from Siwa to Alexandria, we arrived 
at the latter place, without any new occurrence, on Monday, 
2d April 1792. 
I had been much indlfpofed with a fever and dyfentery, 
apparently caufed by drinking brackifh water; and for the latter 
part of the time was utterly incapable of making obfervations, 
having been obliged to continue proftrate on a camel. 
E 2 
After 
