EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 249 
a wooden bowl, capable of containing about two gallons, in the 
open air. Thirty minutes had elapfed when it appeared com- 
pletely filled with fand. Our companions indeed afFeded ta 
relate various ftories of caravans that had been overwhelmed. 
But as neither time nor place were adduced, it would feem not 
unreafonable to doubt the truth of the affertion. 
If caravans have been thus buried on their road, it may be 
prefumed that accident can only have happened after they have 
been deprived of the power of moving, by the influence of a hot 
wind, want of water, and other caufes. A number of men, 
and other animals, found dead, and covered with fand, would 
be fufficient ground for fucceeding native travellers to believe, as 
they are ftrangers to ratiocination, or, though not entirely per- 
fuaded, to relate, as they delight in the marvellous, that the per- 
fons they had found had been overwhelmed on their march ; 
when In fa6t this accumulation had not happened till they were 
already dead. But perhaps the matter fcarcely merits this 
difcuflion. 
Our company confifted of nearly five hundred camels. This 
exceeds the number ufually employed by the Jelabs on their 
return from Egypt, which is often not more than two hundred.; 
In paffing from Dar-Fur to Egypt, they efleem two thoufand 
camels, and a thoufand head of flaves, a large caravan. Of 
perfons of other countries, but particularly Egyptians, trading 
for themfelves, there were not more than fifty, including five or 
fix Coptic Chriftians, whofe admittance in Dar-Fdr the monarch 
K K of 
