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mifery, the fight of which every mortal dreads 
to behold. 
Egypt, two months before, well deferved a 
journey from the north and fouth pole. According 
to the accounts of Ibme travellers, with whom I 
have converfed on the fubjed, and who had feen 
both the Indies, all Europe, the greateft part of 
Afia, and the accefiible parts of Africa, there is 
not fuch a glorious profped to be feen under the 
fun, as an Egyptian field, when the earth is in its 
verdure, and efpecially if it can be beheld at that 
fame time and from the fame place which I faw it, 
namely, the latter part of December, from the 
top of the higheft Pyramid, where I was in com- 
pany with fome Englilhmen, feveral of whom had 
travelled in the Eaft, others in the Weft Indies, in 
Barbary, and in Europe. 
Egypt, which is fo agreeable in our winter, is 
thus, to the higheft degree, horrible in our fummer. 
The birds defert it, and fly to more northern 
climes. The vegetable kingdom is in no better 
fituation. The fpontaneous plants are withered, and 
thofe they cultivate are removed-, the Reft-harrow 
and Succory alone remain -, of the former, thefe 
flower in the ftrongeft heat, and amongft the lat- 
ter, the banks of the Nile are covered with all kinds 
of Melons, Cucumbers, and oily grain (Sefamum) 
which ripens in the fields, where it is fown af- 
ter the corn ; and this, I prefume, is the reafon, 
that fome travellers fpeak of two and three har- 
vefts in Egypt. 
All Egypt however does not fufifer alike from 
the heat of the fummer. The riling grounds about 
Rofetta and Damiata are to be excepted, being 
at this time covered with Rice, which is planted in 
May, and harvefted in Odober, to effed which, 
the 
