travels

228 TRAVELS IN EGYPT, NUBIA,whose mechanism was of the simplest kind; but each enabledone man to finish a piece of. silk large enough fortwo Turkish vests in two days.I fancied much industry,and certainly saw there less of the misery of other Easterntowns.My appearance in uniform of course attracted crowdsof people, and it was in vain to try to avoid them: therewas a respect, however, shown to the stranger not oftenmanifested in the EastiThe buildings did not excite mydesire to draw them: there was no scenery.I was contentto yield to the curiosity of the crowd, and answered theirquestions to the best of my abilities.I endeavoured topersuade the women, whose singular costume I have described,to allow me to sketch their figures : they werealarmed at the idea of enchantment; and even the men fled,from fear, when they saw me use my pencil.About ten o'clock I set off for Eddin, the palace of theemir, situated at the head of a valley, upon an eminencefacing the west.The road wound down the side of thevalley on which the town stands, and then ascended theother, without much variety.The day was excessively hot:I had opened my umbrella to shade myself from the sun;which being observed by a Druze peasant who passed me,he seemed surprised at this care of myself, and cried out, ina voice of contempt, " The shade is for women, not forΚΥΠΡΙΑΚΗ ΒΙΒΛΙΟΘΗΚΗ