56 TRAVELS, TO THE EAST. 
heat of the body. I got fome corals that were 
taken in the Pied fea. 
A whole company of us rode out on affes on 
the 1 2th of June, to take an airing with the Con- 
ful. We faw an incredible number of peafants on 
the road driving affes laden with dung, and fome 
with Saf-fiower (Carthamns) which had already 
been reaped. Both were defigned for firing, to fup- 
ply which article every thing is taken in Egypt. 
Caflia fiftula, Oily grain, Bammia, were now in blof- 
fom. On our return, we faw a number of women, 
who went about inviting people to a banquet, in 
a Angular, and, without doubt, very ancient man- 
ner. They were about ten or twelve, covered 
with black veils, as is cuftomary in this coun- 
try. They were preceded by four eunuchs : after 
them, and on the fides, were Moors with their ufual 
walking ftaffs. As they were walking they all 
joined in making a noife, which I was told fignificd 
their joy; but I could not find it to refemble a joyful 
or pleafing fong. The found was fo Angular, that 
I am at a lofs to give thofe in idea that have not 
heard it. ' It was flirill, as womens voices commonly 
are ; but it had a quavering which was much dif- 
tinguifhed, and which they had learned by long 
practice. It was much like the found I heard the 
frogs make near Rofetta. 
At fix o’clock in the evening, we went with the 
French Conful to fee a feftival, which was cele- 
brated by a rich Turk, whofe fon was to be circum- 
cifed. The father was one of the richeft private 
perfons in Egypt; he therefore fpared no coft to 
celebrate this feftival, which is by the Turks done 
with all imaginable grandeur. The feftival lafted 
qo days before the circumcifion of the child, and 
this was the laft day. The preparations had been 
u - 1 alike 
