A pilgrimage to the temples and tombs of Egypt, Nubia, and ...

NILE BIRDS. 135
the Nile to Lower Egypt, apparently without any
person being sent to take charge of them. Many
of these rafts were met by us on approaching
Kenneh, to all appearance left a la grace de Dieu.
After leaving Kenneh, the wind, which had
favoured us so far, died away, and we were com-
pelled to have recourse to the tedious operation of
tracking, which, notwithstanding the cheerfulness
evinced by the sailors, I heartily wish could be
dispensed with. The distance overcome by this
process is inconsiderable, and the labour appears
immense ; the work of horses instead of men.
However, these slow proceedings afford an oppor-
tunity for some good shooting, and our table is
kept well supplied with wild doves and small
water-fowl. We see innumerable flights of peli-
cans and wild geese, but these are quite beyond
the reach of anything but ball ; and although
this is somewhat tantalizing to a sportsman, I
own that I rejoice to see the poor birds flying
with impunity above our heads. Plenty of the
hawk, kite, and vulture race people the banks of
the Nile; unlike their species in our country,
which are only to be seen soaring in the high
heavens, they fearlessly approach within gun-shot
of us, but their lives are respected by all on
board, as we have entered into an understanding