ASWAN—LUXOR 
427 
became more and more absorbing, till I felt—ns so many have 
done—that to linger in the country or to return to it would mean to 
become a “ digger.” 
Aswan. 
February 25th. 
Most of my time was spent in revisiting the oasis near the golf- 
links. It was a cold morning, 62° F., with a strong wind. In 
sheltered places, especially about Crucifers, Pyrameis cardui was 
abundant, many of the specimens were fresh though chipped, several 
■—practically all that were settled on the ground—were seen to orient. 
Polyommatus baeticus was common; Tarucus theophrastus was not 
uncommon at orange-blossom. This same bridal flower, growing 
near a Sakyeh or water-wheel, also attracted Eumenes tinctor and 
Elis senilis —although the name of the latter would have suggested 
that it should be beyond such romantic food. A male Podalirius 
near to albigena , and a female Megachile flavipes , were satisfied with 
such less overpowering sweets as Paphanus affords, and though I 
found the Chafers less common than before, our old friends Myrmeco- 
cystus viaticus and Adesmia (?) cothurnata were still coursing over 
the sand, and Mesostena laevicollis and Pimelia spinulosa still hid 
under stones. 
That night the vessel’s lights were visited by Agrotis ypsilon , 
Euxoa spinifera , and Sesamia cretica. 
Luxok. 
February 26th—March 9th. 
One day a severe sandstorm made everything impossible, and I 
varied my entertainment by spending three days in bed: a very rare 
experience. My time in the neighbourhood of the ancient capital, 
Thebes, was mainly devoted to the engrossing study of Egyptology. 
The following story, told me by a German fellow-traveller of his 
quite recent personal experience, shows how ill-equipped some persons 
are for such a journey. Herr S. noticed that a certain lady (at least 
a first-class passenger) did not seem to take in the words of the 
dragoman expounding Dr. Budge at second-hand. Out of kindness 
he essayed to help her by explaining the general principles of the 
ancient picture writing, and pointing out some of the commoner 
hieroglyphs. He quite thought that he had made some progress, and 
