436 
horneman's travels. 
oasis of Siwah, and the catacombs found in the 
neighbouring mountains, strongly tend to confirm 
this opinion. 
On leaving Siwah, the road was for some time 
bordered by vast precipices, composed of a rock 
which appears, by the description, to be shell lime- 
stone. It was in some parts absolutely crowded 
with shells and remains of marine animals. Ar- 
riving in four days at the fruitful valley of Schia- 
cha, they were suddenly interrupted by the bray- 
ing of some hundred asses, which proved to be 
conveying the inhabitants of Siwah, armed and 
prepared for combat. The caravan was in a 
state of considerable alarm, though the scouts 
soon brought assurances, that no harm was in- 
tended against them. Horneman sent his inter- 
preter to collect intelligence, and soon saw him 
return with a very rueful countenance. It had 
transpired at Siwah that they were Christians ; 
and the sole object of the expedition was to in- 
sist that they should be seized, and put to death. 
The interpreter was in a state of the utmost dis- 
may, and considered his fate as inevitable ; but 
Horneman walked firmly up to meet this tumul- 
tuous assemblage. The cry immediately arose, 
that these were the new Christians from Cairo 
(the French), and that they were traversing the 
country as spies. On this difiicult occasion, 
Horneman acted his part with great courage. 
