EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 183 
neceflary for the journey, and I made ufe of the time fo allowed 
to draw information from various quarters concerning what 
was requifite for the voyage. From what caufe I know not, 
but at that time the perfons of whom I made enquiry gave no 
intimation that the treatment of Chriftians in their country was 
marked by any afperity. The late Sultan of Fur, indeed, as I 
afterwards learned, had been remarkable for his mildnefs and 
liberality to all defcriptions of perfons. But this was not all — 
a native of Soudan is, in Kahira, the moft obfequious and fervile 
of the human race. He behaves towards a Chriftian whom he 
meets there nearly as to one of the true believers. In his own 
country he repays with intereft the contempt that has been 
fliewn him by the Egyptians. 
On the 2ift April 1793, I fet out from Bulak, having em- 
barked on the Nile ; and on the eighth day, the wind having 
been often unfavourable, arrived at AlTiut. The firft care was 
to provide camels for the route, and thefe were unfortunately at 
that time fcarce. Five however I at length obtained, at about 
13I, fterling each. We had alfo made our provifion of food, 
&c. required for the journey ; and the caravan having at length 
alTembled, after about fifty days the expedted moment of de- 
parture arrived. It was the hotteft feafon of the year, and con- 
fequently unfavourable to travelling. Thefe merchants how- 
ever, difpofed as they are to indolence, and governed by prefent 
fenfations, when their profit is concerned, efteem the variations 
of climate unworthy of a thought : and long habit has fami- 
liarized them with fuch degrees of heat, that what is infupport- 
able 
