42 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
riments might have been ; but if ever it ftiould be brought to 
fuperfede the ufe of barilla, the quantity obtainable feems likely 
to anfwer every poflible demand. 
I detected much alkali in all the fpecimens which came into 
my pofleffion ; but not equal in all. And circumftances did 
not permit me to make an analyfis fo complete as to merit in- 
fertion here. 
During my ftay near the lakes, I vifited two of the Coptic 
convents, that called the Syrian^ and that of St, George ; where 
I could obferve no traces of any European traveller, but Baron 
Thunis, whom the Emprefs of Ruffia had fent, fome years 
before, to negotiate a defedion on the part of the Beys ; but 
who having exhibited lefs prudence than courage, in the pro- 
motion of the defigns of his miftrefs, had been privately put ta 
death in Kahira, by order of the Beys, to avoid delivering him. 
to the Porte, as had been required of them. Thefe convents 
contain each of them feveral religious, who retain all the fim- 
plicity of the primitive ages. — -They drink water, and eat coarfe 
bread and vegetables ; very feldom touching meat, wine, or 
coffee. They are ignorant indeed, but ftrangers to vice ; and 
though their time is employed to no ufeful purpofe, fo neither 
is the application of it prejudicial to any» 
They have each a fmall garden, which fuppHes common 
vegetables, and a breed of tame fowls, together with a well 
of water, within the walls ; the reft of the neceffaries of life 
are 
