Travels in Turkey, Asia Minor, Syria, and across the desert into Egypt ...

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vases,
SYRIA, EGYPT, GERMANY, &C. 245
and the inestimable relics they contained, we took a survey
of the surrounding country from the plain of mummies, which is
situated on an elevated and rocky hill, and overspread with a con-
siderable number of pits. On its surface, which is covered with a
light sand, the fragments of bones, of wooden coffins, and bits of
the linen which had served as an envelope to the mummies, with
other substances drawn from the pits, lay profusely scattered. We
had from this position a very extensive view of the Nile in its dif-
ferent windings and ramifications, as well as of the large tracts of
country
it had inundated.
In returning to our germ a great variety of curious Egyptian
idols, which it was anciently the custom to deposit with the mum-
mies, were tendered to us for sale. We purchased a part of them;
and the Bedouin Arabs, who had acted in the capacitv of guards,
and had also been our guides in descending into the pits, made us a
present of a gazelle, or antelope.
The sheick whom I have already mentioned had prepared a din-
ner for us, of which we partook on our entering the germ, and
hoisted sail, at four in the afternoon, on our return to Cairo, after
a very agreeable, but at the same time fatiguing, excursion.
The arrangement which we concerted was to land in the evening
at Sheick Atman, and, having passed the night there, to set out
early on the following morning for Cairo. In pursuing our route,
the wind freshened, and at length blew a strong gale from the
northward, hy which a high surf was thrown up. This induced
our boatmen to take in the sail, and betake themselves to their oars,
in doing which they manifested great prudence, the germ being a
description of vessel very easy to overset, in consequence
of the
great spread of canvass with which it is provided. At nine in the
evening we reached the spot where we had agreed to land ; and on
proceeding to the village, found the same its gaiety among inhabi-
tants, and the same amusements as we had witnessed the preceding
evening.
A tire having been kindled, we refreshed ourselves witii a cup of
tea, and afterwards reposed until midnight, when the sail was
hoisted, the violence of the wind being considerably abated. After
a sail of a few hours, we reached the canal of the Prince of the
Faithful; and by four in the morning found ourselves in our lod
gings at Cairo.