Another in plafter, two inches eleven lines high. (Fig. 2.)

Another in bronze, probably an Ifis, three inches in height. (Fig. 3.)

A head in bronze, representing an Ifis. This is not of Egyptian workmanship, but of the times when the Greeks were mafters of Egypt. (Fig. 4.)

The fame may be faid of another head of Ifis in alabaster, very flat, and wearing the crefcent. (See fig. 6.) It's length is twenty-one lines.

Figure 5, is that of a beetle,* an infect held facred by the Egyptians. It is of black ftone, eighteen inches long, and thirteen broad.

A cynocephalus in porcelain, coated with applegreen enamel. It is two inches high, and perforated, to be worn as an amulet. (See fig. 7.) I met with another at Terrana, perfectly resembling it, only not fo large.

An Ofiris holding the whip, in gilt bronze, two inches high. (See fig. 8.)

* Scarabæus facer. Lin.

Laftly,

Lafly, a grotefque idol in porcelain, covered with a purplish red enamel. It is two inches four lines high. (Fig. 9.). There are fimilar ones in porcelain, and in hematites, which have been en graved in Caylus's Collection of Antiquities, but it has not been explained.

Having made thefe little acquifitions, we returned to spend the night off Mehallet-Abou-Ali, and failed again at five o'clock in the morning of the 28th. We foon after came in fight of Rahmanie, built on the western bank, at the entrance of the canal of Demenhour, which is navigable only when the Nile is at it's height.

I ftopped a few hours at Fouah. When the Nile was at liberty to fill the canals with it's waters. affifting trade and diffufing plenty, when boats laden with the commodities of Europe and Asia could navigate the canal of Alexandria in quiet, without having to dread the fury of the fea and of the Boghafs, Fouah, ftanding oppofite to this canal, was a confiderable and flourishing city, and the Europeans had fettlements there for the purposes of trade. But the favage careleffiefs of the tyrants of Egypt having dried up an abundant fource of profperity, by fuffering the mud to collect in the beds of the canals, fo as to obftruct navigation,

commerce has been obliged to quit the fhore of Fouah, and carry it's implements and it's wealth to Roffetta, where numerous dangers render it's steps very uncertain. Hence Fouah has greatly declined · from it's ancient fplendor. It's circumference is contracted, most of it's ancient edifices are falling into ruins, and those that are still standing, undermined by poverty, proclaim the near approach of a general decay. Nature, more potent, and at the fame time more generous, ftill however scatters her favours there. The fields, that furround Fouah, are rich and ftrikingly fertile, and the delicious gardens produce fruits, greatly in request for their excellence.

1

Many imagine, that this place is the ancient Metelis, which I have placed near Roffetta, conceiving Fouah to be Naucratis, built by the Milesians, the country of Athenæus, a celebrated grammarian, who obferves, that in his time earthen vafes were fabricated there, the covers of which refembled filver. If my opinion be wrong, I fhare the error with the learned Pocock.

Before Fouah the Nile leaves in the middle of it's courfe an ifland, called Geziret el Dahab, or Golden Ifland. We left this place at noon, and reached Roffetta at midnight.

I had now followed the Nile in it's courfe, through an extent, which it's numerous windings render upwards of fixty leagues. The river at this time was confined within it's channel, to which it had retired. It's banks were low, where they were fandy; but high and steep, where they were of clayey earth. The latter occupied the greater part of this space. They are compofed of a blackifh clay, firm, folid, and feparating in perpendicular flakes, like calcareous ftones. It's colour is the fame as that of the Egyptian pebbles externally.

A report had been spread at Roffetta, that we were maffacred by the Arabs. My return removed the anxiety which this news had given my friends; and they were the more inclined to credit the report, because Huffein had affured them, that every thing was to be apprehended for my fafety, as he had left me in a very dangerous fituation. This worthy Bedouin had been feveral days at Rosetta, and was every inftant repairing to the houfe inhabited by the French, to inquire whether there were any news of me. Being quickly informed of my arrival, he haftened to me, to fold me in his arms, and mingle his frank and hearty joy with the congratulations of my countrymen.

CHAP.

CHAP. XXXI.

Political reflections on the Bedouins-AricultureCorn-Bread-Fennel-flower-Sefamum, or oily grain-Ptifans-Barley-Flax-Indigo-SugarCoffee-tree- French colony in Egypt Olive-trees-Fig-trees-Date-trees— Hablezifs.

canes

THE

HE journey I had juft ended had made me acquainted with the best parts of the foil of Egypt, and with the worst: plains covered with plenty, and deferts parched with perpetual drought. It had introduced me likewife to thofe wandering tribes, equally remarkable for habits diametrically oppofite, thofe of the chief focial virtues, and those of depredation.

Is the exiftence of the Bedouins, patterns for man, and fcourges of fociety, more beneficial, or injurious? This is a queftion naturally fuggefted, but not so easy to refolve. Speedy as the wind, they disappear in a moment from fpots which they have haftily ravaged, and bury themselves in vast solitudes, to which they alone are accustomed, and with the topography of which they only are acquainted. Hence they are difficult to check, and

ftill