206 
DESCRIPTIONS OF EGYPT* 
mild and equable climate. The only source of de- 
struction to which it is exposed, consists in the ac- 
cumulation of sand which is wafted by the winds of 
the desert, and which seems gradually encroaching 
on all the cultivated districts in this part of Africa. 
On the ninth day after leaving Syene, Mr Legh 
arrived at Dehr, the residence of Hassan Cacheff, 
the sovereign of this district. The Cacheff, a tall 
handsome young man, was half drunk when they 
were introduced. He asked them roughly what they 
wanted, and why they came to Dehr ? On coming 
to particulars, it was intimated, that a fine Damascus 
blade, worth 500 piastres, would secure permission 
to proceed up the river. This arrangement had 
not entered into Mr Legh's contemplation ; in 
lieu of the sword he proffered a watch, being the 
present destined for the Cacheff ; but it was con- 
temptuously rejected, as an article of the use of 
which he had not the remotest idea. Mr Legh was, 
therefore, finally obliged to produce the sword, and 
he then received permission to proceed in any di- 
rection he chose. The next tta^e was Ibrim, about 
half a day's journey beyond Dehr ; but it had been 
entirely destroyed by the Mamelukes. The recent 
communication with the Cacheff, however, seems 
to have cooled our traveller's zeal for proceeding 
farther ; he returned to Dehr, and from thence 
again descended the Nile. 
