without danger or inconvenience. The island where we obtained them lies between the villages Berimbal and Meballet el Emir.

Yonder we perceive a branching canal, which, quitting the Nile, goes probably and discharges its waters in the lake Bebira, through which there is a paffage to Canopus; and now we arrive at Deyrout, a charming village on the western bank of the Nile.The fun declines, and his departing rays gild the towering minarets of Faoüa, of which we have a twilight glimpse; we shall remain all night within fight of this city.

From on board, Oct. 2d.

Faoüa is fallen from its ancient greatnefs; in the time of Belon (b) it was second only to Grand Cairo. The Venetians kept ā Conful there, and merchandise was brought thither up the canal that leads to Alexandria; but, this being no longer navigable, Rofetta

(b) We have before faid Belon vifited Egypt in the fifteenth century, about fifteen years after the Ottoman conqueft. This naturalist traversed the greatest part of the Eaft, and imported various exotics into France. To him we are indebted for the evergreen oak, which, in the depth of winter, preferves a faint image of fpring.

is now become flourishing, and Faoua has loft, with its commerce, the fource of its fplendor. I have taken a hafty furvey of it, attended by the Janiffary who accompanies me. Large ruinous buildings; fquares, load-. ed with rubbish; brick houses, out of repair, many mofques, deprived of all ornament; but few inhabitants, and those poor; fuch are the melancholy remains of this celebrated city of the Milefians. (c) Built in the neighbourhood of Canopus, and fomewhat infected by the fame immorality, the inhabitants permit prostitutes to live in a public Kan, and wink at their diforders. They intercept paffengers, before whom they fing and dance, after the manner of their country: nothing can be more licentious than their fongs, or more lafcivious than their looks and gestures. In the neighbourhood of this city stood Naucratis, which also was founded by the Milefians.

From on board, Oct. 3d. The ever favourable north wind has forerun the dawn, and the mariners have unfurled their fails; and now with ease we cut the

(c) I observed, in my first letter, that it was the Milefians who built the city at prefent called Faoüa.

rapid current, have already past several islands, almost under water; and hamlets of which we caught an occafional glance, amidst the luxuriant verdure; already we are five miles from Faoüa, oppofite the mouth of the canal dug by Alexander, and which the negligence of the Turks has fuffered to be in part filled up. Four leagues down its stream ftands the little town of Damanhour, inhabited by Copts and Mahometans, which is the Hermopolis Parva described by Ptolomy, Strabo places it befide the river, but we must understand by this the canal of Alexandria. Abulfeda has precisely marked its fcite. (d) The neighbouring lands produce much flax, wheat, barley and cotton, which is an annual plant.

As we advance we fee multitudes of boats, fome gliding with, and others ploughing against the stream; we hear the rude and

(d) Damanhour is a town of Egypt to the South-eaft of Alexandria, near the canal which runs thither; it is the capital of Behira, and is called Damanhour of the defert. (*) Oua men balad mafr Damanhour. Oua hie fi-l-fhark, oua-l-genoub en Elefcanderié. Oua hie caadat elbehire. Qua leha Kalig Elefcanderié. Oua taaref Damanhour el ouaehesh. Abulfeda Defcription of Egypt.

(*) So called to distinguish it from two towns of thefame name, it being not far from the defart in which are the lakes of Natroun.

noify mufic of the mariners, who mingle their hoarfe voices with the tambour de bafque and the artlefs reed flute. Thefe concerts charm not the ear, yet do they inspire the heart with gladness. And now herds of oxen low in the meadows; the husbandmen people the plain to water their harvests; the maidens come from the villages, to wash their linen and draw water; they dress themselves beside the stream; their pitchers and their clothing lie fcattered on the bank; they rub their bodies with the mire of the Nile, plunge into it, and fport among its waves. Several of them came fwimming round our boat, and crying ya fidi at maydi: Give me a medin, Sir. (e) They fwim with grace, and their hair, knotted in treffes, floats upon their fhoulders; their fkins are of a fwarthy dark brown, but, in general they are exceedingly well formed, and the cafe with which they fwim, against the rapid ftream, is a proof of the force and agility which exercife will beftow, on the most delicate bodies. Thus the beauteous Nauficaa, (f) hav

(e) The medin is a fmall piece of plated copper worth three farthings.

(f) Odyffey, book the 6th.

ing washed her garments, bathed with her companions, when Ulyffes unexpectedly ftood naked before them. (g)

The wind freshens, and our bark swiftly cuts the tide; the tortuous courfe of the Nile every moment prefents us a new profpect; here a village lofing itself in the distant ho rizon, there a town, with a mofque and a grove of orange trees growing by its fide; and every where dove houses, of a pyramidal form, in which innumerable flocks of pigeons are affembled. Fed on thefe fertile plains,

(g) Ulyffes was fhipwrecked on the Pheacian coaft, where, overcome with fatigue, he flept, among the brakes, on a bed of flowers; thither Nauficaa and her companions came, to wash their garments in the river, and, having bathed, amufed themfelves with throwing ftones, one of them fell near Ulyffes, who awaking, ran to the place whence the found of voices proceeded. At the fight of a man, who had no other covering than the bough of a tree, the female flaves all fled, but the daughter of Alcinous remained. With dignity he liftened to the unfortunate stranger, gave him confolation, recalled her maidens, commanded them to wash and clothe him, in a tunic and a mantle. The poet has painted, with admirable art, in the person of Nauficaa, the noble dignity of birth and virtue, who, certain of herself, fled not at the fight of a naked man, and whom, being probably wretched, the might fuccour.

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