D'Athanasi, Giovanni; Salt, Henry [Hrsg.]: A brief account of the researches and discoveries in Upper Egypt: To which is added a detailed catalogue of Mr. Salts collection of Egyptian antiquities (London, 1836)

CROSSING THE NILE

45

of in those parts, as also beyond the cataracts,
when they have no other conveyance. The next
day our man returned upon a raft, accompanied
by two Nubians, who, swimming beside it, pushed
it forward: this manner of crossing the river is
generally a very hazardous one. Messrs. Banks
and Beechey were the first who got upon the raft,
and having landed upon a little island they sent
it back to fetch our baggage ; I and the janissary
swam beside it, resting our arms upon it occa-
sionally. Mr. Hyde, at one moment, was nearly
perishing, in consequence of being carried away
by the violence of the current, and only saved
himself by grappling upon a shingle bank. This
accident so alarmed him that he fell seriously
ill, and was within an ace of dying. After land-
ing, we found that all our baggage was wet; and
not being able to procure any cattle, we were
obliged to stop five days where we were. On the
ninth day we had the good fortune to find some
asses, on which we put our baggage, and after six
hours' journey, worn out with fatigue and tor-
mented with hunger, we arrived at the house of
the Kashef, and handed him his brother's letter.
We passed the night very comfortably, as the