travels

38 TRAVELS IN EGYPT, NUBIA,My crew consisted of the Rais, five men, and a boy, theyoungest son of the Rais.We proceeded up the river, whenthe wind served, by sailing ; when it failed, the crew towed;when it was contrary, we moored.The river was at itslowest, the season of the year the hottest; and I was exposedto the Kamseen winds, which at times blew with a heat of108 Farenheit in the shade, and even close to the river seemedto affect all animal life *.I had often occasion to notice the activity of the boatmenin lifting the boat from the shallows of the river, by whichthe course was constantly impeded; and was surprised thatmen, who at other times were all apathy and indolence,seemed to think nothing of exerting their bodily strength ina manner that few Europeans would be inclined to attempt.The scenery of the Nile is too regularly uniform to pleasefor a continuation; but my first outset from Boolac leftagreeable impressions on my mind.The banks of the Nile,as far as Gizeh, were covered with houses and trees: differentislands intercepted the stream: Rauda seemed a large garden: the ruins of the Nilometer appeared close to a picturesqueharem of the Pasha: the pyramids of Gizeh and* Volney gives a lively and &ithful description of the effect of these winds, inhis Travels, p. 56, 3d edit. English translation, Svo.ΚΥΠΡΙΑΚΗ ΒΙΒΛΙΟΘΗΚΗ