EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 265 
The filli in the river Ada^ I am told, confift of nearly the 
fame fpecies as thofe of the Nile in Upper Egypt. They are 
caught in wicker bafkets, and ufed for food.— The natives have 
alfo a way of drying them, but it does not prevent their being 
fo ofFenfive to the fmell, as to be ufelefs to any but themfelves. 
Numerous huts built of reeds are found on the bank of the 
xiver, as well for the ufe of the fifhermen, as of thofe who 
enfnare the ferocious animals that come to drink its waters. 
The Chameleon abounds in Dar-Fur ; the viverra Ichneu- 
mon^ nims^ and almoft all the fpecies of lizard are alfo feen 
there. 
Of Serpents, the Coluber Haye of Egypt, the Coluber vipera^ 
and the angu'is Colubrma^ were the only ones I faw : and no 
more than one or two of each ; though it was reprefented to me 
that in fome places they are numerous. The Furians have not 
the art of charming them, like the Egyptians and Indians. I 
expofed myfelf to much ridicule by collecting a number of 
chameleons in my apartment, to obferve their charadter and 
changes ; the people there think them impure, and relate 
many foolifh ftories concerning them. 
A great number of infe£ts and reptiles, which I had taken 
care to conferve, accident has deprived me of, and I cannot 
now furnifh a catalogue. The fcorpion is fmall, of a brown 
hue, and his venom not extremely violent. The natives cure 
M M the 
