travels

HOLY LAND, AND CYPllUS. 37Major Taburno, I procured a boat of about twelve or fourteentons, belonging to a respectable Arab Rais, large enoughto admit of my having a temporary cabin constructed on itshalf-deck, 'composed of palm-branches covered with a doubleset of mats, under which I had room for a wicker sofa for mybed, a small camp table and chair, my baggage, a provisionof biscuit, and a Keenah jar, to filter the Nile water *. Iwore the European dress, and sometimes my uniform. Myservant's bed was laid at the foot of mine, and separated bya mat; our arras suspended over our heads. On the 4th ofApril, I left Boolac, provided with a strong firman from theJCaya Bey, which contained an order to the Turkish chiefs totreat me as one of the family of the Pasha; and a bill ofexchange on the treasury of Siout, for a supply of money.* Henry Blount, talking of the water of the Nile, says, the water tastes justlike new milk, but somewhat nitrous; and if drank as from the river, troubled,it causes to strangers a flux. They take a gallon or more of that water; and ifth^ have not time to let it settle, they cast therein three or four Inmised almonds,which, in less than an hour, clarifies it like crystal; which e£Pect they have uponno other water, and therein is ^own the perfection of that.Collection, 10th vol.P. 24.4, Pinkerton'^— The Keenah jar, being unglaeed outside, acts as a filtering stone.' I have triedthe effects of bruised almonds on the Nile water, even at sea; and the water verysoon became quite clear.H. Blount, not having tried.I cannot answer for the latter part of the assertion ofΚΥΠΡΙΑΚΗ ΒΙΒΛΙΟΘΗΚΗ