AEAB HOSPITALITY. 
47 
Poor Kate continues in a sad state^ and to tempt her to partake 
of some food I shot a few doves ; but although the cook prepared 
them with all the care he was capable of, she would not look at 
them. 
July 7th . — The night had been cool; and my suffering wife 
felt refreshed in the morning, and partook of some medida boiled 
flour, seasoned with salt. At six p.m., before a sharp breeze from 
the south, we passed the islands of Burnat, Guraeshab, and Nas- 
suri, whereon a few temporary hamlets existed. Sheep and goats 
were feeding off the remains of stubble. We neither tarried at 
Matemma or Shendy, but, anxious to get on, we, at sunset, made 
fast near a large grove of date-palms, that on the bank hid the 
village of Magaweer from view. This place is celebrated for the 
growth of onions, an important item in Arab cookery. We laid 
in a sufficient supply for the requirements of our servants, to last 
them until we hoped to arrive in Egypt. 
July Sth . — Off at sunrise, and passed many islands, some prettily 
skirted with mimosa. 
The general appearance of the surface, at this time of the year, 
is barren, as the crops had all long since been reaped, and they are 
not generally cultivated until after high Nile. 
July 9th . — At ten a.m. reached Damir, an important mart for 
salt, that is obtained by artificial evaporation from the soil, with 
which it is highly impregnated. The chief was absent, but his 
brother, II Lemin Wallad Hassan, overloaded us with attentions, 
and would insist upon making us presents of a sack of wheat, a 
couple of sheep, and a bushel of salt, as provender for our journey. 
