f 
I20 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA^ 
CHAP. VIII. 
UPPER EGYPT. 
Defign to penetrate into HabbeJJj or Ahyjfiiua — Voyage on the Nile — 
T)efcr'iptio7i of AJfiut — General courfe of the Nile — I/lands and 
villages — Caverns — Kaw — Achmim — Painted caverns — Girgi 
— Dendera — Antient Temple — Kous — Topography of Upper 
Egypt — El-wah-el-Ghurbi — Situation of the Oafs parva. 
Ever eager to accompllfh my propofed journey into Abyffi- 
nia, I was neverthelefs not able to fet out till Monday loth of 
September, and, even then, not with all the advantages that 
might have been expelled. I had indeed employed part of the 
fummer, which was paffed in Kahira, in learning the Arabic 
language ; which is a talk of dijfficulty to thofe who are unable 
to fupply the utter want of books, and method and perfpicuity 
in the teacher. My friends were forward in reprefenting 
the dangers to be encountered, rather than in furnifhing the 
means of avoiding them. I determined to adopt fuch a method 
as an imperfed: knowlege of the country fuggefted as the leaft 
exceptionable, and leave the reft to fortune. Judging that I 
fhould yet have occafion for an interpreter, I took care to pro- 
vide a Greek, who, befides his native language, was acquainted 
with the Turkifh, Arabic, and Italian. I had alfo with me a 
Mohammedan of the lower clafs of Kahirines, who, as belongs 
to 
