APPENDIX.

No. I.

Illustrations of the Maps.

In compiling the two maps which accompany this work, the writer has made use of his own observations in that part of it to which those observations had extended. For the remainder of the information exhibited in each, he has trusted to the report of the more intelligent natives, who having frequently traversed the neighbouring countries, might be supposed in some measure qualified to describe what they had seen. Yet he has not ventured to lay down a single position which had not previously been confirmed by the distinct and concordant testimony of at least three or four individuals. Even with this castigation, it is unnecessary to remark how impracticable is the task of approximating the bearings, from the oral testimony of those who have no clear idea of bearings, and scarcely know how to distinguish the eight principal points. Almost equally difficult is it to give the face of a country, or an account of its productions, which the informant perhaps traversed between sleep and waking, or when too much occupied with the sufferings of the road, or the end he had in view, to be at leisure to attend to its detail.

The names of places so obtained and positions so adjusted, it has been thought proper to distinguish by dotted letters, with a view to denote hesitation and uncertainty. The part with which he was himself more particularly acquainted, or which was sufficiently supported by the authority of former maps, is marked with ordinary letters. The writer’s own route is pointed out by a green line, the reported routes by a single engraved line, without colour.

The loss already mentioned of a large portion of his detached papers, has effectually deprived him of the power of presenting the chart of the route with all that exactness and minute detail which ought invariably to accompany all geographical researches. But if he have been compelled to use the result of his celestial observations, which alone his journal furnished, without the recapitulation of particulars, he has been careful to compare them with the bearings which fortunately were most of them preserved, without venturing to force the latter to the former: e.g. the result of his observation, as he found it briefly noted, would have brought Charjé and Mughes several miles farther East; but having found the distance and bearings exactly accord with this position with respect to Assiût, he has preferred it to the attempt of fixing the position of those places, by observation of which he was unable to give adequate proof of the accuracy.

The position of Assiût is fixed, both in latitude and longitude, by observation. That of Charjé in latitude by observation; in longitude, as above described. While at Sheb, the Writer had an opportunity of observing his position at leisure, both in latitude and longitude. At Selimé he enjoyed the same satisfaction. The mountains, to the East of the road, are laid down according to their appearance to the eye of the observer from the villages of Elwah, and the route of the caravan beyond them. Their S.E. extremity, as here marked, rests solely on the report of a native of Mahas. The distance from Selimé to the river, has been judged fully established by the uniform and unvarying testimony of a number of Jelabs of Dongola, &c. who travel that route.

The latitude of Leghéa was variously observed, both in going and returning. Its longitude is only determined by the bearing of the road, relatively to Bîr-el-Malha S. and Selimé N. Several days consumed at Bîr-el-Malha, afforded the means of determining its position both in latitude and longitude.

Sweini and Zeghawa have been placed only according to the bearing and distance computed from Cobbé and Le Haimer. But the two latter places are fixed without much doubt by frequent lunar observations, the occultations of Jupiter’s satellites, &c.

With regard to Cubcabéa and Rîl, no more could be done than to place them according to the uniform and constant report of the natives. They are both places much frequented, and in so small a distance no mistake of importance can have arisen.

The bearings of the road from Cubcabéa to Wara, and thence to the capital of Bornou, are not laid down but from numerous inquiries, and some labour employed in adjusting them. That road occupies sixty days. The position of the capital of Bornou varies from that which is allotted to it in the latest maps, but scrupulously adheres to the bearings and distance given. Abu-Shareb is from Cobbé nearly W. by N. Abu-Shareb to Wara, N.W. by N. From Wara to the capital of Baghermi, between W.N.W. and N.W. by W. Road winding S. From Baghermi to Kottocomb, N. by W. 2 W. From Kottocomb to Bornou nearly in the same direction.

Sennaar, as well as the course of the Nile, the coast of the Arabian gulf, Masouah, Gondar, Swakem, &c. have the same position as in M. Rennell’s map. Sennaar is in longitude 33° 30′ 30″. Cobbé being in 28° 8′, the difference between them will be 5° 2′ 30″—Rîl cannot be more than twelve or thirteen miles E. of Cobbé, but Rîl is only twenty-three days journey from Sennaar. There remain therefore on a direct line 4° 50′ which is about twelve and a half geometrical miles per day; and admitting the smallest possible deviation, will give fourteen miles by the road. This on so long a journey is much more than might be expected, and by no means accords with the route to Bornou, which allows only about nine miles for each day’s march.—D’Anville’s position of Sennaar (29° 39′) would bring it too near to Rîl, leaving only eighty miles between them, or three miles and quarter per day. Whether the truth lie between the observation of Mr. Bruce and the conjecture of D’Anville, or whether the former be well established, and the length of each day’s march may be accounted for from the straitness and facility of the road, some future occasion must determine. One circumstance would seem clear, viz. the distance between the city Sennaar, and the Bahr-el-abiad, which the repeated and unvaried testimonies of the natives relatively to the interval of three, or three and half days, leave no room to doubt, have hitherto been placed much too far apart.

The road from Wara to Dar Kulla exhibits a remarkable coincidence as to the number of rivers and lakes which it passes, with that part of Major Rennell’s last general map of Northern Africa, which forms what he considers as the alluvies of that portion of the continent, though it be neither in the same latitude nor longitude.

Of these various streams little description was obtained. The country they flow through is said to be great part of the year wet and marshy; the heat is excessive, and the people remark that there is no winter. The course of the rivers, if rightly given, is for the most part from E. to W.

The river called Bahr Misselad is said to be a considerable one. It’s source is not described, but appears to be not far distant from the supposed site of the copper mines. Those who frequent this road, ordinarily pass two years from the time of leaving Wara till their return to that place, or Cobbé. Of the time actually employed in the route they differ in their report, but it may be estimated at from 150 to 180 days; at a medium 165. Wangara I have never heard mentioned. Whether it may be the same country with some one of those described is uncertain; but its production being gold, does not accord with any of them; that commodity not being, as far as was related to me, found in any quantity to the W. Zamphara is yet known to several of my informers, as a country near to Bornou; but no particular description was given.

The dotted lines which are seen in the general map, and seem to mark with too much precision the extent of the empires Bergoo, Baghermi, and Kordofân, are chiefly designed to shew the relative situation of those districts, and how they border on each other, or on Fûr. The authority recurred to was only that of the inhabitants of each country, who affirmed that their native empire extended so many days from E. to W. and so many from N. to S. For the general form of Dar-Fûr the authority is somewhat stronger; the precise termination of that empire being accurately known to the several reporters in each principal direction.

The writer, during his stay in Dar-Fûr, could never find the variation of the needle greater than sixteen degrees W. In what relates to that country, therefore, he has been guided by that quantity of variation.

No. II.

ITINERARIES.

From Cobbé to Sennaar.
Bearing.Days.

From Cobbé toShawer

1½
From Shawer to RîlS.S.E.2
At Rîl is a large pool of water, nevercompletely dry, and a little to the E. of it a spacious house builtby Sultan Teraub, eldest brother of the present Monarch.
From Rîl to Fadow⎱
⎰		E.⎰
⎱		3
From Fadow to Cawb3
Near Cawb commences a ridge of hills,running N. and S. or nearly so.
From Cawb to Dar Hummâr⎫
⎬
⎭		Mean bearingE.⎧
⎨
⎩		2
From Dar Hummâr to Emdî3
From Emdî to Kreiga0¼
In each of these towns are Fukkara, whoadminister justice.
From Kreiga to Ibeit[64]E.1
Between Kreiga and Ibeit is Abu-Harrâs, aplace distant from the former three hours. Its neighbourhood islaid out in gardens belonging to the people of Dongola establishedthere, in which they cultivate onions, &c. The situation ofAbu-Harrâs is in length N. and S. and the wells which supply itwith water are to the S. of the town.
From Ibeit to Miteina0½
From Miteina to Autosh2
From Autosh to Yassîn0½
Yassîn is a town of Fukkara.
From Yassîn to Breissa, deepsand0½
From Breissa to Cone1
Cone is at the foot of a mountain ofthe same name, which lies S. of the road. Near Cone, a little S. ofthe road, is a pool of water, and this is a place where travellerscommonly repose themselves.
From Cone to Kinnana1
From Kinnana to Deggîn1
From Deggîn to Hellet Allais[65],on the Bahr-el-abiad, the place which the ferry-boatsfrequent.1
Hellet Allais is situated on the W. ofthe river. The river (Bahr-el-abiad) is here of such breadth, thatthe features of a person standing on the other side cannot bedistinguished, but the human voice is heard.—A number of trees isseen here to the W.of the river, not to the E. Hellet Allais is altogether built ofclay.—A large palm tree grows in the middle of the town.
On the eastern side of the river isShillûk—not far removed from it, being reported to bewithin sight of Allais.
Shillûk is a town of idolaters, builtwith clay. The inhabitants have no other clothing than bands oflong grass, which they pass round the waist and between the thighs.They are all black; both sexes are accustomed to shave their heads.The people of Shillûk have the dominion of the river, and take tollof all passengers, in such articles of traffic as pass among them.The name Shillûk is not Arabic, and its meaning isunknown.—When asked concerning their name or country, the peoplereply Shillûk. When employed in transporting Mohammedansacross the ferry, they occasionally exhibit the importance whichtheir situation gives them. After the Mûslim has placed himself inthe boat, they will ask him, “Who is the master of that river?” Theother replies, as is usual, “Ullah or Rubbani”—God is the master ofit. “No,” answers the Shillûk, “you must say that such a one(naming his chief) is the master of it, or you shall not pass.”They are represented as shewing hospitality to such as come amongthem in a peaceable manner, and as never betraying those to whomthey have once accorded protection. The particulars of theirworship, as in most other instances where I have had my informationfrom Mohammedans, have not been described.
From Shillûk to Dar RugaE. ¼N.1
From Dar Ruga to WaaliaE.1
From Waalia to ShadliE.1
From Shadli to Sennaar0¼
Sennaar, Medinet el Fūn̄ orFungi, is situated on the river which flows from Habbesh,which river is much smaller than the Bahr-el-abiad, andbefore the annual increase is fordable between Sennaar andBasboch.
The slaves who have usurped thegovernment reside in Terfeia, on the opposite side of theriver. Between them and the people of the city have been perpetualskirmishes for the last six years. (1794).
The Bahr-el-abiad suffers the sameperiodical increase and diminution as the Nile in Egypt.
From Sennaar to Gondâr.
From Terfeia to RhadE.N.E.1
From Rhad to DenderE.1
From Dender to BélaS.E.1
From Béla to Teawa1
Rhad is on the banks of a river of thesame name. After passing Béla, the traveller leaves the river, andproceeds by a mountainous road to Teawa. The soil in theneighbourhood of Teawa is clay, and the town is built of thatmaterial. The people of the place use for bread theMahriek, (whitemaize,) which grows there luxuriantly.
From Teawa to Râs el fîlS.E.1¼
From Râs el fîl to GondârE.S.E.7
The officer who governs Râs el fîl isappointed by the king of Habbesh.—Inhabitants of Râs el fîl calledGiberti.
Road from Sennaar to Swakem.
From Sennaar to Teawa4
From Teawa to Atbara, a town on thatriverE.1
From Atbara to HallangaN.2
The people of Hallanga are Mohammedans,but use not the Arabic language generally. They are of an olivecomplexion. The Mahriek in their neighbourhood is said togrow so large, that the stem at bottom is seen of the size of aman’s wrist.
From Hallanga to SwakemN.E.12
During great part of the way the roadis mountainous and rocky. The space between the two last places isuncultivated, and inhabited only by wandering Arabs. These are oftwo races, Bijjé and Okoot. Both of them breed camels in greatnumber, sheep, &c. Swakem is situated on an island, in whichthe governor and principal persons reside: but the greater numberlive on the main land.
Road from Sennaar to Mahas.
From Sennaar to HerbajéN. ¼W.3
From Herbajé to HalfeiaN.5
At Halfeia is the confluence of theBahr-el-abiad and Bahr el asrek.
From Halfeia to Chendi⎫
⎬
⎭		N.⎧
⎨
⎩		3
From Chendi to Birbîr3
From Birbîr to Shaikié3
From Shaikié to DongolaN.W.2
From Dongola to MahasN.1
From Sennaar to Fazoglo.
From Sennaar to DachalaE.3
From Dachala to EmsiriéS.E.1
From Emsirié to LouniS.3
From Louni to GerbînS.3
The people of Dachala are Mohammedansresiding on the western bank of the Bahr el asrek.—Gerbîn is amountainous place, which serves for confining malefactors under thegovernment of Sennaar.
Mountainous—From Gerbîn toFazogloS.4
The mines of Fazoglo afford much gold:they belong to Sennaar.
From Gerbîn to Gondar.
From Fazoglo there is no direct road.Having returned to Gerbîn,
From Gerbîn to HassîbE.2
From Hassîb to BeidaE. ¼S.2
Beida is the first town under theAbyssinian government, and is described as chiefly inhabited byfugitive slaves, who belong to persons within that empire.
From Beida to Kourmi3
From Kourmi to Hasseb-ullah3
This road is mountainous, circuitous,and abounds with springs of water. The civet cat is so common inthis district, that in every house, it is said, there are fifteenor twenty tame ones.
From Hasseb-ullah to GondârE.10
Mountainous and difficultroad.
Sundry routes of the merchants ofSennaar.
From Sennaar to Gebel-el-MoiéS.W.1
From Gebel-el-Moié toBahr-el-abiadW.S.W.1½
From Sennaar to BahhadînS.S.W.0½
From Bahhadîn to MenâjelS.W.2
From Menâjel to the Bahr-el-abiad.W.2
Road to Gondar.
From Sennaar to Terfeia0½
From Terfeia to Subî-deleib0½
From Subî-deleib to Wallad Midani0½
From Midani to the Bahr-el-asrek0½
From the river to Mendala2
From Mendala to Kaila1
Kaila is mountainous.
From Kaila to Embutteik1
Mountainous and deep sand.
From Embutteik to Goze, or thesands2
From Goze to the Atbara3
This country is inhabited by theBisharîn Arabs, who are Mohammedans.
From Atbara to Gebel Cussa3
From Gebel Cussa to Gebel en Narr3
From Gebel en Narr to Gondar12
A Route which seems to beuncertain, and of which the bearings are not accurately given.
From the Goze or sands of the Atbara,abovementioned, to El-Edd belonging to the Bijjé3
From El-Edd to SwakemN.E.12
This road is filled with Arabs.
From Swakem to Gebel-el-HelléW.3
From Gebel-el-Hellé to Gebel-el-Sillah⎫
⎬
⎭		S.W.⎧
⎨
⎩		2
From Gebel-el-Sillah toGebel-el-beit2
From Gebel-el-Beit to Birbîr6
All this road from Swakem to Birbîr isrepresented as rocky.—Birbir is situated in a clayey soil.
From Birbîr to Wullad-el-Megedûb⎫
⎬
⎭		S.⎧
⎨
⎩		2
From Wullad-el-Megedûb to Bisharié2
From Bisharié to Shûkûrié3
Bisharié are a foreign race, butShûkûrié speak Arabic as their native language.
Arabs—From Shûkûrié toHellalié4
From Hellalié to Bahr-el-asrek1
From Bahr-el-asrek to Em-ushar1
From Em-ushar to Wullad-el-fûrûk1
From Wullad-el-fûrûk to Hummûr2
Clayey soil.
Mohammedans—From Hûmmûr toSenût-abûd2
From Ibeit to Emdurmân and Halfeia,and return to Ibeit by another road.
From Ibeit to BahraE.1½
From Bahra to EmganatûN.E.2
From Emganatû to ShegeikN.E.1
From Shegeik to GimmoyéN.2
From Gimmoyé to EmdurmânN.2
All this country is inhabited byMohammedans, who speak Arabic alone.—Gimmoyé and Emdurmân are bothon the W. bank of the Bahr-el-abiad, and the latter is at the place of unionbetween that river and the Abawi.—Returning W.
From Emdurmân to Harraza, a mountain ofdifficult passageS.W.3
Road desert and destitute ofwater.
The inhabitants of Harraza areidolaters, of mixed complexion, but most of them of a reddishhue.—They breed some horses, which they mount.
From Harraza to Abu-hadîd⎫
⎬
⎭		S.W.⎧
⎨
⎩		1
From Abu-hadîd to Zerawy0½
From Zerawy to Esherchar1
Esherchar is famous for its salt, whichis gathered by the Arabs, transported to other places and sold. Thepeople of this last place are Arabs, but those of Zerawy, Harraza,and Abu-hadîd, neither Arabs nor Mohammedans.
From Esherchar to BisheriéS.1
Road desert.
Bisherié is full of palm-trees.
From Bisherié to Bahra⎱
⎰		S.S.W.⎰
⎱		1
From Bahra to Ibeit1½
Route from Ibeit to Sheibôn, whereare gold mines, and other places, returning to Ibeit.
From Ibeit to BahraE.1½
From Bahra to KhûkjéS.E.4¼
From Khûkjé to Abu-jenûchS.1
From Abu-jenûch to SeijéE.0½
From Seije to TummaraS.E.2
Between the two last places is a rockyroad, with intervals of deep sand and clay.
From Tummara to DemîkS. ¼E.1
The people from Abu-jenûch hither areidolaters, and destitute of clothing. The soil at and near Demîk isclay.
From Demîk to KhégaS. ¼E.1
From Khéga to DibûS.S.E.0½
Mountainous and rocky.
From Dibû to SheibônS.S.E.1¼
Clayey soil.
Near this place, in a deep glen orvalley, much gold is found, both dust and in small pieces. Thenatives collect the dust in quills of the ostrich and vulture, andin that condition sell it to the merchants. They have a ceremony ondiscovering a large piece of gold, of killing a sheep on it beforethey remove it. The people are all black, as are those abovementioned from Abu-jenûch hither. They have some form of marriage,i.e. of an agreement between man and woman to co-habit. Women offull age wear a piece of platted grass on their parts. The youngerand unmarried are quite naked. The slaves, which are brought ingreat numbers from this quarter, are some prisoners of war amongthemselves, (for their wars are frequent,) and some seduced bytreachery and sold. But it is said to be a common practice for thefather in time of scarcity to sell his children.
At Sheibôn are some Mohammedans, who liveamong the idolaters and wear clothing: it is not said whether Arabsor not.
The people above described areindependent tribes of negroes, who have no other ruler than theirrespective chiefs, the authority of whom is very small, except intime of war. The Mecque of Sennaar used to claim some tribute fromthe people of Sheibôn, but received nothing regularly.
From Sheibôn to Shurrû⎱
⎰		W.S.W.⎰
⎱		0½
From Shurrû to Luca1
Luca is another place where resides anindependent chief: it is also famous for its gold, which, as atSheibôn, is the only medium of exchange among the inhabitants.
From Luca to KoheilaW.1½
In Koheila are Arabs, not subject toany monarch of the country. Some idolaters also live amongthem.
From Koheila to Tlinga, a town⎫
⎬
⎭		W. ¼W.⎧
⎨
⎩		1
People of Tlinga Mohammedans.—Thiscountry is called by the Arabs Dar Kinnana.
From Tlinga to Gebel Sahd0½
Gebel Sahd is within the dominion ofSennaar.
From Gebel Sahd to Baha-ed-dînN.1
Still Dar Kinnana.
From Baha-ed-dîn to Gebel-el-abîdN.N.E.1
From Gebel-el-abîd to TumbûlN.1
Tumbûl is under the government of theking of the Tuclawi.
From Tumbûl to Seisabân⎫
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎭		N.⎧
⎪
⎪
⎨
⎪
⎪
⎩		1
Seisabân is inhabited by Arabsalone.
From Seisabân to Abdome0½
From Abdome to Tuggala, capital of theking of Tuclawi0½
This district is called Sagurnié,country of the mountaineers.
From Tuggala to Deir1
From Deir to Gebel-el-deir1
From Gebel-el-deir toGebel-el-BuccléN.N.W.1
From Gebel-el-Bucclé to IbeitN.0½
From Rîl to Wara, capital ofBergoo.
From Rîl to Gebel Marra, deepsandW.2
Gebel Marra to Bishara TaibW.2
Bishara Taib to the confines ofFûrW.5
All this road is mountainous and rocky,and the inhabitants from Rîl W. to the confines of Fûr areMohammedans. The water on Gebel Marra, which is a lofty mountain,rises with some remarkable circumstances, and it is said to besulphureous. The people there feed partly on wheat, which growsnear the place, partly on Mahreîk.
The people who inhabit the confines ofFûr W. are called Tûmûrkée.
From the confines to Dar RumaW. ¼N.8
Desert, sand and clay, somewater.
From Dar Ruma to Kibbéid⎫
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎭		N.E.⎧
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎨
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎩		2
Kibbeid is situated on a hill orrock.
From Kibbéid to Kajachsha1
From Kajachsha to Bendala1¼
Bendala is inhabited by the slaves ofthe Sultan of Bergoo.—The people of Ruma, and thence toBendala are idolaters.
From Bendala to Wullad-el-Bucca1
Bucca is a mountainousdistrict.
From Bucca to Dar Misselâd1
From Dar Misselâd to Wara, theresidence of the Sultan of Bergoo2¼
From Wara to Bahr-el-Gazalle.
From Wara to Nimr, where the merchantsreside, as at Cobbé in Dar-FûrW.0¼
From Nimr to Battah2
Battah is situated on a small river,which flows from the S. and then deviating to the W. falls into theBahr el Fittré. Battah belongs to the Misselâd.
From Battah to DirotaW.1
From Dirota to Dar Hummâr0½
Road, clayey soil.
From Dar Hummâr to Coseiât1
Dar Hummâr rocky.
From Coseiât to Shungeiât1
Two towns of idolaters.
From Shungeiât to DarDajeou—Caffres1
Cooka, Mohammedans—From DarDajeou to Dar Cooka3
From Cooka to Muddago2
In Muddago are Mohammedans, who aregoverned by a petty prince under the king of Bergoo.
From Muddago to Bahr-el-Fittré⎫
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎭		N.W.⎧
⎪
⎨
⎪
⎩		1½
The people on the banks ofBahr-el-Fittré are called Abu-semmîn, and are Mohammedans. They uselittle boats for the purpose of passing from one place to anotheron the river.
From Bahr-el-Fittré toBahr-el-Gazalle2
Road deep sand, no trees.
The neighbourhood of theBahr-el-Gazalle is inhabited by Arabs, who feed camels and sheep,and some oxen.
Route from Khukjé to theBahr-el-ada, and thence towards the Bahr-el-abiad.
From Khukjé to BarakaS.S.W.3
Baraka is inhabited by independentArabs.
The greater part of this road is deepsand; the remainder, from Baraka by the Bahr-el-ada, isclay. The part of that river, which is here meant, is occupied bytribes of Arabs feeding cows and sheep; they are called Missicié.This part of the river is also frequented by wild and ferociousanimals. TheMissicié Arabs comb their hair back, twist it, and fasten it in theform of a scorpion’s tail behind. They collect honey of the wildkind in great quantity, and hunt the elephant.
From Baraka to TûrrûtS.E.4
From Tûrrût to JungeiônS.E.1
The people of Jungeiôn are tall andblack; they have cows, sheep, and goats, and feed on theMahriek or white maize. They collect the dung of theanimals mentioned, dry it, roast it on the fire, and afterwards useit for a bed. These people are very numerous. The country in theirneighbourhood is all a plain, and the soil clay. They have apractice, apparently superstitious, of milking their cows into avessel with a narrow mouth, that the milk may not be seen, andnever pour it into a dish or bowl; and any stranger who visits themis obliged to drink of the dugs of the cow, as do the calves.
From Jungeiôn to ShădS.E.1
From Shăd to InigulguléN.¼
Route from Khukjé to theBahr-el-ada, thence toward the Bahr-el-abiad, and returning toRîl.
The inhabitants of Inigulgulé areidolaters. They clothe themselves with a kind of cotton cloth.
From Inigulgulé to the residence of the kingof IbbéE. ¼N.1½
From said residence to the confines ofDar-FûrN.W.4
From the confines to Tubeldié2
From Tubeldié to Rîl8
All this road is sandy, but filledwith many and large trees.
Road from Bahr-el-gazalle toBornou.
From Bahr-el-gazalle to the capital ofDar BagherméN.E.3
From the said residence toKottocomN. ¼W.⎫
⎬
⎭		18
The inhabitants of this district areMohammedans. In the road two rivers are crossed by the traveller,one of which is called Kitchena. It runs from S.E. toN.W.
From Kottocom to Bornou, the ImperialcityN. ¼W.
The road lies in part through sand, inpart through deep clay. There are many trees. The neighbourhood ofthe Bahr-el-gazalle seems by the description to be a forest.
The city Bornou is surrounded by awall, in which there are four gates, opening E., W., N., and S. Asmall river runs near it, which falls into theBahr-el-gazalle.
Bergoo is said to be fifteen days in extentfrom E. to W. and from N. to S. twenty days.—Bagarmé, in the formerdirection, twelve, in the latter, fifteen days.—Bagarmé has manytroops, but Bergoo is estimated the strongest. The people of Bergooare remarkable for their zealous attachment to the faith, and readthe Korân daily.
Some description of Bergoo.
Within about a day’s journey of Waraare said to be eight large mountains, the inhabitants of each ofwhich use a distinct language. They are Mohammedans, and said to bebrave, furnishing the armies of the Sultan of Bergoo with recruitsas often as required. One of the mountains, called Kergna, issituated S.E.; another W. which is inhabited by a people calledWullad Mazé; Gebel Mimi N. Gebel Absenûn E. Gebel AbdurrûgE.
Other mountains of Bergoo are, GebelTama, N. Gebel Kashimirié, W., each of them two days from Wara.Gebel Abu-hadîd, E. the same distance.
Three days W. of Wara is the rivercalled Bahr Misselâd.
Route from Wara to Cubcabéa in Dar-Fûr,and another route from the last place back to Wara.
From Wara to Abu-sharebS.E.5
From Abu-shareb to the confines ofFûrE. ¼S.1½
From the confines to EmdokneE.1
From Emdokne to Dar Misseladîn⎱
⎰		E. ¼S.⎰
⎱		1
From Misseladîn to Cubcabéa3
From Cubcabéa to GelléN.W. ¼W.1
From Gellé to GimmerN.E. ¼N.4
The Sultan of Gimmer is subject toFûr.—The people are Mohammedans. In the road is found water, andthe soil is sand and rock.
From Gimmer to ZeghawaE. ¼N.2
Mountainous.
The Sultan of Zeghawa is also dependenton Fûr.
From Zeghawa to Tama⎱
⎰		N.N.W.⎰
⎱		2½
From Tama to the confines1
From the confines to Abu-senûn2
From Abu-senûn to WaraW.8
A route sometimes taken by themerchants of Bergoo.
From Wara to Emjûfûr2
From Emjûfûr to Timé Degeou1½
Another route.
From Wara to Jumbo⎫
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎭		N. with little variation E.⎧
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎨
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎩		1
From Jumbo to Doreng1
From Doreng to Dageou2
Sandy road—Mohammedans.
From Dageou to Kergna2
From Kergna to Ghannîm2
From Ghannîm to Duida2
This road is mountainous, soilsandy, many trees.
The people Mohammedans, under thegovernment of Bergoo.
From Duida to Bencia1½
From Bencia to Dongata3½
From Dongata to BendalaW.3½
Mountain.
From Bendala to BujidS.S.W.2½
From Bujid to Kibbeid3½
Mountainous.
From Kibbeid to Kajachsa⎫
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎭		S.⎧
⎪
⎨
⎪
⎩		2
From Kajachsa to Baniân2½
From Baniân to Ain3½
From Ain to Kuddano1½
From Kuddano to GizânS.E.2
From Gizân to WaraS.4
Another route from Wara, and returningthither.
From Wara to Middeisîs⎫
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎭		N.E.⎧
⎪
⎪
⎨
⎪
⎪
⎩		2½
From Middeisîs to Beit-el-Habbûba2
From Beit-el-Habbûba to Truanié2½
From Truanié to Gidîd1½
From Gidîd to Kuddano2
From Kuddano to Wara3
Another route.
From Wara to Birket-el-RumliW.S.W.4
From Birket-el-Rumli to Goze, orthe sandsN.2
From Goze to DirotaE.2½
From Dirota to ButtaE.2
From Butta to WaraE.2½
Near Butta is a small river, of whichmy informer remembered not the name.—This road is full of a speciesof tree, whose leaves are described as white, and which bears afruit, which, however, is not eaten, except by the camels which arefond of it; it is called Culcul.
Route from Cobbé to the copper mines ofFertît.
From Cobbé to Cussé⎫
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎭		S. ¼W.⎧
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎨
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎩		1
From Cussé to Currio1¾
From Currio to Treiga1¼
Sandy road.
From Treiga to Beit Melek Eide1
From Beit Melek Eide to DarMisselâd3
Rocky.
From Dar Misselâd to Dar Marra1
Caffres—From Dar Marra to DarFungaro3
One day and a half mountain, theremainder forest and clayey soil.
From Dar Fungaro toDar-el-abid-es-Sultan- Fûr2½
From the latter to Dar-el-Nahâs8½
Rocky road, earth where visible isred.
The people wear a slight covering overthe parts of generation, in other respects are quite naked.
From Dahr-el-Nahas to Bahr Taisha⎱
⎰		E.⎰
⎱		3
From Bahr Taisha to Bahr-el-abiad4½
The former falls into the latter at aplace called Tenderni, which is peopled by idolaters,called Cusni. This spot is full of palm trees, and anotherkind of tree, which by description would seem to be the cocoa.
Here it is seen that the distancebetween Cobbé and the copper mine is 23½ days, direction nearly S.and that the Bahr-el-abiad is 7½ days distant from that place,direction generally E.
Route from Dar Bergoo to the sources ofthe Bahr-el-abiad.
From Abu Telfân South, ten daysjourney, is said to be the source of the Bahr-el-abiad: but theparticulars of the route my informer was unable to give me, he nothaving travelled it. The place is called Donga, and is theresidence of a chief or king of an idolatrous nation. The countrythere is very mountainous, and in the spot where the river risesare said to be forty distinct hills: these are called Kumri. Fromthem a great number of springs issues, which uniting into one greatchannel form the Bahr-el-abiad. The people of Bergoo go thithersometimes to seize captives, but there is no trade between them andthe natives. The people are quite naked, black, and idolaters. Theplace is said to be twenty days removed from the confines ofBornou. All the road thither is mountainous. From Donga to Shillûk30 days.

No. III.

METEOROLOGICAL TABLE
FOR THE YEAR 1794.

JANUARY.
Day of the Month.Height of Therm. 7 A.M.Height of Therm. 3 P.M.Course of the Wind.
15876⎫
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎭		Always Northerly.
26076
35975
46180
56079
66179
75778
85376
95878
105980
115675
125172
135373
144970
155070
165274W.
175174W.N.W.
185176
195378
205576N.W.
215374
225679W.
235578
245172W.S.W.
255276
265880⎫
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎭		S.W.
275780
286081
296382
306080
316181
FEBRUARY.
Day of the Month.Height of Therm. 7 A.M.Height of Therm. 3 P.M.Course of the Wind.
16269⎫
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎭		No settled wind.
26172
35874
45873
55270
65070
75473
85574
95371N.
105676N.
116078⎫
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎭		S.W. and S.
126177
136581
146481
156180
166382
176280
186081
195876
205875
215575W.
225675W.S.W.
235572
245472S.
255671
265370
275475
285271
MARCH.
Day of the Month.Height of Therm. 7 A.M.Height of Therm. 3 P.M.Course of the Wind.
17383⎫
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎭		Westerly
27283
37484
47485
57382
67684
78083
88084S.
97684S.
107684S.W.S.
117285
127586
137384
147384
157486S.W.
167686
177786
187587S.E.
197887S.
208083S.E.
217986
228081S.E.
238181
247987S.
257885S.
267785S.
277985
287684
297986
307785W.S.W.
31
APRIL.
Day of the Month.Height of Therm. 7 A.M.Height of Therm. 3 P.M.Course of the Wind.
18097⎫
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎭		Generally N. or N.N.W.
27996
37997
47895
58298
68096
78196
87995
98094
108094½
118196
128296
137994
148095
158298S.
168398S.S.E.
178398½S.
188399S.E.
198097
208197S.
218196S.
227995
238094N.W.
248296
2582½98S.
268298S.
2784100S.
2884101S.
2983101
308095N.W.
MAY.
Day of the Month.Height of Therm. 7 A.M.Height of Therm. 3 P.M.Course of the Wind.
18589South or South- easterly windsmost part of this month.
28892
38894
48695
58595
68494
78496
884½96
98597
108697
118797
128798
138799
148294
158194
1682½95
178699
188699
198597
208696½
218494
228390
238596
248796
258698
268696
278897
288799
2987100
308598
318498
JUNE.
Day of the Month.Height of Therm. 7 A.M.Height of Therm. 3 P.M.Course of the Wind.
18094N.W.
27786N.W.
38290N.W.
48394N.
58394N.
68494S.E.
78495S.
88497S.
98290N.W.
108190N.W.
118187
128389N.W.
138691N.W.
148795S.E.
158795S.E.
168695S.
178896S.
188796S.
198289⎫
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎭		S.E. chiefly.
208388
2182½88
228190
238191
248092½
257992
267690
277790
287994
298097
308197
JULY.
Day of the Month.Height of Therm. 7 A.M.Height of Therm. 3 P.M.Course of the Wind.
18293⎫
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎭		S.E. or Calm, all this time.
28595
38598
48594
58394
68594½
78795
88697
98797
108897
118795
128493
138293
148290
158291
168192½
178394N.W.
188394N.
198393N.W.
208695S.W.
218596W.
228696S.W.
238492⎫
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎭		S. or S.E.
248092
258091
268193
2782½94
288294
298597
308598
318598
AUGUST.
Day of the Month.Height of Therm. 7 A.M.Height of Therm. 3 P.M.Course of the Wind.
17990
29993
38293S.E.
48091S.
58091
68496
78595
88294
982½93N.
108394N.N.W.
118494E.
128394S.E.
138697
148492
158492
168594
178291S.
188092
197592
208093N.W.
218194S.E.E.
228194
238394
248497⎫
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎭		Generally S. or S.E.
258497
268092
278392
288293
298495
308595
318496
SEPTEMBER.
Day of the Month.Height of Therm. 7 A.M.Height of Therm. 3 P.M.Course of the Wind.
18294
27992E. ¼S.
37892E.S.E.
48095
58195
68094E.
77893
88294S.E.E.
98296S. ¼E.
108095
118495S.E. ½E.
128493
138394S.E.
148192
158495
168094
177990E.
188091E.N.E.
198092N.E.
207892
218294
228293
237990
248093⎫
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎭		Generally N.E.
257994
267892
278092½
288294
298395
308092
OCTOBER.
Day of the Month.Height of Therm. 7 A.M.Height of Therm. 3 P.M.Course of the Wind.
17890⎫
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎭		For the most part Northerly.
27890
37791
48091½
57690
67792
78292
88293
98092
107992
117890
128089
138190
147690N.E.
157688N.
167689N.
177991
187890N.N.E.
198089
208294
218293
227993N.W.
238093
247889N.
257890N.
268091N.W.
277992
287790
297789
307689
317990
NOVEMBER.
Day of the Month.Height of Therm. 7 A.M.Height of Therm. 3 P.M.Course of the Wind.
17991⎫
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎭		W. and often S.W.
27888
37888
47987
57888
67886
77686
87485
97486
107585½
117384
127385
137386
147686
157283½
167484
177482
187382N.W.
197582N.
207483
217281N.
227281½N.
237381½⎫
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎭		N. or N.W.
247382
257283
267483½
277382
287381½
297282
3071½83
DECEMBER.
Day of the Month.Height of Therm. 7 A.M.Height of Therm. 3 P.M.Course of the Wind.
16880½N.W.
26980N.W.
37181
47382N.N.W.
57383S.W.
672½82S. & E.
77180S.E.
87383
97280
107283N.W.
116980N.W.
126879N.W.
136881N.
146882N. ¼W.
156781⎫
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎭		No settled wind.
166682
1766½82
186781
196781⎫
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎭		S. and S.E.
206882
217084
227184
237084
247082
257081½
266680
276681
286579N.W.
296779N.W.
306781
316881

METEOROLOGICAL TABLE
FOR THE YEAR 1795.

JANUARY.
Day of the Month.Height of Therm. 7 A.M.Height of Therm. 3 P.M.Course of the Wind.
15975⎫
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎭		Generally N.W. or N. and very violent.
26478
35874
45876
56076
66176
76277
86378
96376
106376
116075
125769
135769
145771
155673
165673
175572½
185977
195877
205878
216081
226079
235979
246079⎫
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎭		S. and S.E. or calm.
255880
266280
276081
2862½81
296080
306180
315978½
FEBRUARY.
Day of the Month.Height of Therm. 7 A.M.Height of Therm. 3 P.M.Course of the Wind.
15774
25675N.
35975N.
46077N.W.
56076N.
66176
75772N.W.
84866N.
95071N.
105471
115274
125576N.N.W.
135574
145775N.W.
155676
165976
175976
186078⎫
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎭		Generally South.
196080
206380
216481
226581
236583
246582
256482½
266482
276683
286684
MARCH.
Day of the Month.Height of Therm. 7 A.M.Height of Therm. 3 P.M.Course of the Wind.
16581⎫
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎭		Very variable.
26684
36680
46682
57486
67290
77490
87491
96988
106888
116890
127190
1372½92
147392S.W.
157192S.W.
167091
177291W.
187492
197593
207693⎱
⎰		S.
217593
227592½
237493
2472½92
257192
267794S.
277491
287690
297693
307392
317091N.W.
APRIL.
Day of the Month.Height of Therm. 7 A.M.Height of Therm. 3 P.M.Course of the Wind.
17090N.W.
27290N.
37292
47392
57693
67693
77793
87794
97794
108096⎫
⎬
⎭		S.S.E.
118096
127692
137592⎫
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎭		Variable.
147492
157391
167392
177593
187595
197695
207695
217794
227794
237694
247493
257493
267293
277395½
287294
297394
307595½
MAY.
Day of the Month.Height of Therm. 7 A.M.Height of Therm. 3 P.M.Course of the Wind.
17793N.
27694N.
37694N.
47794
57593N.W.
67796N.N.W.
77896
87896S.
97695
107695
117495
127392
137391N.E.
147291N.E.
157089N.E.
167989
177189
187592S.E.
197392S.E.
207592½
217495S.
227495S.
237695S.
2478100S.E.
257998S.
267898S.
277998S.S.E.
287796
297795N.W.
307896
317897
JUNE.
Day of the Month.Height of Therm. 7 A.M.Height of Therm. 3 P.M.Course of the Wind.
17688N.W.
27692
37893N.N.W.
47792½
58090
67891N.
77892N.W.
87992
98198⎫
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎭		S.
108398
118298
128197
137097
147995
157694
167694⎫
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎭		Generally South.
177793
187794
198095
208094
218196
227892½
237698
248098
257996
268197
278297
288096
297994½
3082½96
JULY.
Day of the Month.Height of Therm. 7 A.M.Height of Therm. 3 P.M.Course of the Wind.
180N. or N.W. during shortintervals, but generally S. or S.E. or calm.
296
3
4
5
692
7
87891
98096
108198
1181101
128097
137997
148096
157893
167793
177892
187692
197894
2093
217691
227994½
238094
248093
258195
267792
277892
287894½
297996
307994
318099
AUGUST.
Day of the Month.Height of Therm. 7 A.M.Height of Therm. 3 P.M.Course of the Wind.
17895
27894
37592
474½93
57392
67795
77897
87996
97798S.
1081100S.S.E.
1180
1279
137694
147894
157995
167895
177695
187996
198099S.
207794
217694
227594
237795
247793N.W.
257593N.W.
267694N.N.W.
277592N.
287894
298096S.W.
307895S.
317795
SEPTEMBER.
Day of the Month.Height of Therm. 7 A.M.Height of Therm. 3 P.M.Course of the Wind.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
87793⎫
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎭		Always S.E. or S.
98095
108195
117993
127893
138094
147792
157592
167490
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
297490N.E.
307590N.E.
OCTOBER.
Day of the Month.Height of Therm. 7 A.M.Height of Therm. 3 P.M.Course of the Wind.
17690
27591
38093N.
47893
57792
67790
77791
87691
97892
108092
117590N.W.
127487N.N.W.
137486
147286N.W.N.
1572½86
167384
177586
187787
197687N.
208089
217686
227585
237584
247484
257684½
2675½86
277484
28
297281
307381
317281
NOVEMBER.
Day of the Month.Height of Therm. 7 A.M.Height of Therm. 3 P.M.Course of the Wind.
17083
27287S.
37186
47286
57387
66988
76982N.E.
87082N.N.E.
96981
106880
116882
126980
137080
146879
156983
167286
1772½84
187283½
197081
207182⎫
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎭		S.
217382
227283
237284
2473½86
257385
267285
277482
287180
297080
307079
DECEMBER.
Day of the Month.Height of Therm. 7 A.M.Height of Therm. 3 P.M.Course of the Wind.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
125971⎫
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎭		N.
136073
146279
155776
165777
175879
185778
196079
206080⎫
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎪
⎭		S.W.
216280
2262½81
236181
245780
255880
265674
276076
285676
295776
305877
315776

No. IV.

Some Observations on the account of Egypt given in the works of Savary and Volney.

Vol. i. p. 27. Savary says, Alexandria is only a village, containing scarcely six thousand inhabitants. The fall of Alexandria from its antient splendour has already been remarked; and how vague all computations of number must necessarily be, by persons who reside there only for a few weeks or months. But Alexandria alone furnished to the Imperial army and navy, in the war with the Russians, four thousand men able to bear arms. This, with other circumstances, might serve to prove that the population must greatly exceed the number mentioned.

He computes the people of Damiatt at eighty thousand, which appears no less extravagant on the other side, and is certainly at least double the real number.

Vol. i. p. 220. Savary’s description of the topography of Memphis is characterized by an apparent error. He speaks of the small bourg Menf, antiently Memphis, a little to the South of the Pyramids. It is somewhat singular, that no one writer before him should have found a spot so remarkably coinciding in name with the antient capital. The writer of this inquired repeatedly for such a village, but always without effect; and Olivier and Brugniere, in the employ of the French Republic, who passed several months in Egypt, nearly at the same epoch, were equally unsuccessful in their researches. So that it would seem fair to pronounce that no such place exists. The only town in Egypt which bears even a distant resemblance to the name of Memphis, is Menúf, which is many leagues to the North, and within the Delta.

P. 275. The story of Murad Bey discovering his father, it is somewhat surprising should have escaped all the merchants residing in Egypt, some of them almost half a century, and always eager for anecdotes of this kind. The inventive talent of the Greek servants is indeed often put in activity to amuse strangers with such tales, but Savary, who was so experienced in Egypt, should have had more discrimination than to blend des contes de ma mere l’oye with historic narration. The facts are wholly discordant.—The man is a labourer of the environs of Damascus, Murad Bey a native of Georgia.—To go from Damascus to Kahira he embarks at Alexandretta, seventeen days journey N.W. of Damascus, when he might have gone to Beirût, Seidé, Akka, or Yaffa, each of them four days. This labourer travels with the eccentricity of a comet; and even the French philosopher is lost in calculating his course. But Savary was writing on Egypt, and is not obliged to know the geography of Syria.

P. 288. J’ai tué plusieurs Ibis dans les marais près de Rossette. Ils ont les pattes longues, le corps mince, alternativement blanc et noir, et le col allongé. Ils vivent de poissons, de grenouilles et de reptiles.

Had Savary given the Arabic name of this curious bird, that sups on so many different dishes, the extent of his own error might have been exactly known, by comparing the bird he means with the figure of the real Ibis. Others are contented with seeing one Ibis, but they have come in covies to welcome M. Savary, and he compliments them with a volley of small shot. S. should have known, that birds accustomed to feed on fish, do not commonly eat reptiles, and vice versâ.

Vol. ii. p. 59. The Ruin at Achmunein had before been fully described by Pococke; Norden passed it in the night, and therefore saw it not. Bruce has also mentioned it. What is described as gilding, however, on this and other monuments, I take to be yellow colour, never having seen any instances of gilding in the antient remains of Egypt. It might be curious to inquire of what materials these colours were composed, which have thus defied the ravages of time.

Vol. iii. p. 33. Savary speaks of the military corps of Assabs as still in being, but some years before his time that body had been dissolved, and no longer existed.

The Janizaries are still inrolled, to the number of about fourteen thousand; but the greater part of them are peaceable citizens, who never handle either sword or musket. From them are appointed the gate-keepers, a small garrison in the castle, &c. &c.

A body of Janizaries was called out and maintained by Ali Bey, but since the time of Mohammed Bey Abu-dhahab I have not understood that they have been on active service. The Yenk-tcheri aga, or commander in chief of the Janizaries, ranks as a Bey, as do the Kiahia and Ichawûsh. These three are elected in the Divân of the Beys. The inferior officers are appointed by the Shech-el-belad, as are the officers of the city police.

Volney seems generally to hint that women are despised in Egypt, and says, they can possess no inheritance in lands.

They are exactly in the same predicament with the other sex as to inheritance of land, and receive possession by paying a fine to the government, from which none are exempted. In fact, their situation is in many respects better than that of men. Public opinion is in their favour, and their property is generally more respected, and they are treated more equitably than males. Their complaints, in case of injustice, sometimes carried even to intemperance, are heard with more patience.

A large portion of landed property having devolved to a widow at Monfalût in Said, Solyman Bey, Senjiak of Said, desired to purchase it at the price the widow might demand. She refused, and he afterwards married her to gain possession, though she was both old and diseased.

English edit. Vol. I. p. 216. Volney says, that when there are no ships at Suez, that town has no other inhabitants than the Mamlûk governor, and a garrison, consisting of twelve or fourteen persons.—In Suez are twelve or thirteen mosques, which could never have been designed for a garrison of so few persons. There are also several coffee-houses. In truth the inhabitants are not numerous, but there are four or five considerable merchants constantly residing there, who have their correspondents at Kahira, and in the towns of Arabia, and conduct the commerce between Egypt and India. There is consequently a proportionate number of their dependents, and persons who manage commercial affairs of a less considerable kind. There are ship-builders, and several other artificers; a large khan or okal where merchandize is lodged; some Greek Christians constantly residing there; Mohammedan ecclesiastics, and others; and a number of fishermen and people more immediately connected with the sea. The population is restrained by the difficulty of procuring water, scarcity of provisions, and other inconveniences; but invariably much exceeding the estimate here given.

P. 263. Volney remarks, that the horizon is every where flat, even in the Upper Egypt, and refers for a proof of his assertion to Norden’s Plates, which demonstrate precisely the reverse. The fact is true indeed as to Lower Egypt, but from Kahira upward to Assûan there is only a very small space where the view is not terminated by the mountains, of various aspects, on each side.

No. V.

Some remarks on the account of Egypt, contained in the recent correspondence of the French officers who accompanied Buonaparte to that country. The work referred to is intitled, Paris, pendant l’annee 1798. Par Peltier. Vols. xix. and xx.

Vol. 19, page 455. The distance from Cairo to the cataract is about 360 Geog. miles. The Nile is never an impetuous torrent, nor does it ever overflow its banks in the whole course from Assûan to Kahira, but is admitted at proper times into the transverse channels prepared for it.

P. 457. The Arabs, it is evident, would not build walls of much greater extent than the habitations they proposed to defend. A very small part of these being now filled, shews that the decay the city has undergone since the Turks became possessed of it, has even been greater than what it sustained from the time of Severus to the Saracenic conquests.

P. 459. Old Kahira is not Fostat, but Misr el attîké, further South.

Lettre de Boyer.

P. 475. I doubt whether any one of the towers about Alexandria would contain 700 men.

P. 475. The writer says every Mamlûk is bought; and yet there are Frenchmen among them.—Where are Frenchmen sold? It is probable no Frenchman would be found among them, unless perhaps two or three individuals who might have embraced Mohammedism, but who certainly never were sold. In an engagement, I believe, no one has more than a single piéton with him; for those inconsiderable officers, who are attended on ordinary occasions by numerous followers, when in the field, avoid as much as possible any shew of preeminence, which would only expose their persons to greater danger.

P. 476. A Mamlûk has rarely more than one fusil, which he discharges once, and then gives to his piéton, to reload if he find opportunity.—One pair of pistols is attached to the body, and the second pair is carried in holsters, never about the body.—Of the arrows in a quiver I have no knowlege; occasionally in engaging the Bedouins the Mamlûks use a light spear, about six feet long, or a misdrâk, which is often ten or twelve feet.—The former is thrown, the latter never discharged from the hand. But these are by no means part of their common arms.—One sabre is used most adroitly and with extraordinary effect, by every expert horseman, but never two.—This part of the officer’s account seems taken from the mouth of some Egyptian peasant, who, as usual, exaggerated.

P. 476. From Alexandria to the mouth of the Nile is not twenty leagues, but from twelve to fifteen.—The anecdote of the shech in the same page appears authentic.

P. 479. The Mohammedans in general, and the Egyptians in particular, of whatever order, are very far from being regardless of the children.—On the contrary, they are extremely anxious for their welfare. Perhaps their domestic government may in some degree afford an example of the happy medium between weak indulgence and unnecessary severity; and parents daily experience the benefit of this their moderation. Very few instances of ingratitude are seen in their children. Women offering to sell their children, it remained for Boyer to discover. If reduced to desperation they might have desired rather to see their offspring in slavery than pierced with bayonets; but not the most wretched of Egyptian mothers would ever have consented at any price to sell her child, even to Murad Bey. I rather imagine the writer mistaken as to this fact.

A moitié nuds. Would not men go half naked in Great Britain if the climate permitted it?—La peau dégoûtante. In the populace of no nation are fewer cutaneous diseases found, or the skin more smooth and healthy, than in the Egyptians. Fouillant dans des ruisseaux, &c. Are hedgers and ditchers in any country very polished and delicate?—None are found raking the muddy channels but those whose business it is to keep them clean. The houses of the Alexandrines are neat, and comfortable according to their ideas, though perhaps they would appear gloomy to a French or English man.

P. 480. This is not quite correct. On the West of the W. branch of the Nile, the arable lands are very narrow, but to the East they extend along the road to Bilbeis and Salehich. The villages indeed are ill built; yet a house is here of little use but as a shelter from the sun. One of our neat, snug, brick houses, covered with red tiles, would be absolutely intolerable in Egypt. They are poor because the government is oppressive, not because they are uninclined to labour. The muddy appearance of the Nile water is no motive for any Egyptian to abstain from drinking it; nor is any other circumstance attending it, except its being polluted. Water, according to their law, is not polluted by a camel, a horse, or an ox drinking of it; but it is by a dog’s drinking, or a man washing his hands in it.

481. Boyer seems to have been too hasty in numbering the inhabitants—400,000 seems to me about one-fourth too much.

Ibid. The streets of Kahira are narrow, but inconveniences would attend their being wider. The houses are by no means without order: two long streets, as is seen in Niebuhr’s plan, bisect the city longitudinally and parallel with the river. The streets are often rectilinear, though they are by no means rectangular.

The ecclesiastics all read, and many of them write. All merchants of any consequence read, and many write. Often their female offspring are taught to read. The Copts most of them read and write. Who then regards the arts of reading and writing with admiration? The soldiers, the peasants, and the laborious part of the populace are ignorant enough of reading and writing, but by no means wonder or are astonished at what they see daily practised.

Berthier’s Letter, 2 Fructidor.

P. 536. All Egypt, according to this writer, is in submission to the French troops; but it appears the farthest post the latter have occupied is at four leagues from Cairo, where there is an entrenched camp; then there remain 130 leagues yet to subdue.

P. 599. It seems to me impossible that the old port could contain half the number of vessels here mentioned, viz. 300.

—. This place, whose name is so murdered, is spelled Jibbrîsh.

P. 603. In Julien’s letter, I know not how the flag could be placed on the walls of the celebrated city Thebes, when all that remains of that city is the ruins of public buildings, that formed a part of its interior.—Often join, &c. There is one annual feast dedicated to the Prophet, called Mewlet-en-Nebbi, which lasts one day; and one feast also annual in honour of cutting the Chalige, which also lasts one day. How did the soldiers then often celebrate them?

604. The canal of Alexandria wanted nothing more than to be cleared of the sand which had accumulated in it, and to be defended by a dike against the incroachments of the sea, which the citizens of Alexandria refused to do for themselves, lest the repair of all other public works should be expected from them, and the Beys would not do it for them.

Dolomieu’s Letter.

Vol. 20. p. 50. He says the Alexandria of the Greeks was situated on a tongue of land, formed by earth lately accumulated, when the city was founded.—He means, I suppose, that the sea had left it but lately. This is possible. The natural soil round the city is rock intermixed with sand. The vegetable mold appears to have been extraneous. If he suppose that district, like the Delta, to have been a deposition of the river, this seems utterly improbable; all the circumstances are at variance, which in such a case should be common to both. The land which divided the lake from the sea is a rocky ridge, which seems to have undergone no variation for a great length of time. The remark as to the column of Pompey is not new; but I cannot agree that the capital and base are of bad taste. The sharp relief of the foliage and mouldings is worn off by time, and it never was perhaps possible to exhibit on granite marble the finer strokes of the chissel, but the proportions, though not those of the later Corinthian, are strictly conformable to those of the purest age of architecture. What may have been discovered relatively to the obelisk by digging is uncertain; but from a comparison of this with the circumstances attending the obelisks at Thebes, it cannot be deduced that much is lost of its height. It must have been erected in the most flourishing state of the city, and while it remained in that state, it seems scarcely probable that such multitudes of ruins should have existed as to raise other buildings on them. I am satisfied, from the position of the one that remains entire, and the broken one near it, they never underwent a second arrangement, but remain in their relative position, as at the gate of some public building. The obelisk is in a very low part of the city, (which indeed is all very low,) and very little above the level of the sea—how does this accord with the ruins of other buildings being yet found under it? Perhaps in this part a firm foundation was not found very near the surface, and the builders have formed an artificial one. The French antiquary may have mistaken this for the ruins of buildings.

P. 59. My measurement of the height of the pyramid was a few feet short of this, but does not very materially differ from the one here given.

P. 95. El Maraboot is a kind of fort, and the tomb of a saint, situated on a high ground in the neighbourhood of the Gulf of the Arabs, a good view of which it commands.

No. VI.

Explanation of the Plate facing page 286.

1. The principal inclosure, consisting of apartments exclusively appropriated to the use of the monarch.

2. Principal rukkûba, or place of public audience.

3. The large court where public audiences are given.

4. Two gates, the one of the interior, the other of the great court; at both stand slaves, to refuse admittance when the Monarch is not in the humour to do justice; and the chief of them, to strike the greater awe, is the public executioner.

5. Exterior court in which the public officers leave their horses, and thence walk barefoot to the presence of their master.

6. External entrance, fronting the market-place.

7. A court with some apartments in it for faquirs, guards, and slaves.

8. A wide court where are some horses tied.

9. Rukkûba at the other entrance, where the Sultan gives audience, principally in winter, and where he would be less public.

10. Small court surrounding that rukkûba or shed.

11. Outer court where a mob assembles, and horses and slaves are in waiting.

12. Outer gate, called Bab-el-burrâni, as the great one is called Bab-el-Gebeia.

13. A multitude of small apartments reaching almost the whole length of the palace, where slaves are kept in confinement, as a punishment for misdemeanors; they are chained and fettered, and kept to hard labour, as dressing and tanning leather, making spear heads, &c.

14. A large court of irregular form filled with a multitude of small apartments for the women; they pass through the two gates marked w to fetch water, but have no other outlet. Each of the principal women has a large apartment, surrounded by a number of smaller ones for her slaves; there are also apartments for cooking.

15. Granary, which is builded on a frame of timber, to prevent the accession of the Termis or white ant.

16. Gate by which the women enter the Sultan’s apartment where that sex performs all offices.

17. Stable or court where the best horses are kept tied, and sheltered from the sun.

The Eunuchs live in the interior, to be always near the Sultan; male slaves, wherever they can find a place.

18. Are the slaves’ apartments who guard the entrance.

19. A place where the faquirs read.

The officers immediately attached to the court live in small inclosures on the outside of the fence, as that marked 20.

The houses of the Meleks resemble this in miniature; those of inferior persons only of smaller size without divisions, and having fewer apartments.

The exterior is an hedge of dry thorns, about ten feet thick, and as many high.

THE END.