DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4372#0032
16
and by the punctuality with which they had paid for every arti-
cle of provision, that in the same places where the French dared
not carry on their inquiries without a strong escort, we could
walk unattended and unarmed ; and we were actually encamped
for several days under the sepulchres of Thebes, inhabited by the
people of Gournon, so much celebrated for their robberies and
ferocity; and we employed them in searching the tombs for mum-
mies, manuscripts of papyrus, idols, vases, and that endless va-
riety of Egyptian relics which these sepulchres contain.
On our arrival likewise at EsSuan, the governor with his whole
suite came on board our boat, to deliver up to us the keys of his
fortress; so firmly was he convinced that we had been detached
from the army to take possession of the town in the name of the
British and Turkish governments : and it was some time before
we could undeceive him in an error he seemed most willingly to
indulge.
Being thwarted in our intentions of penetrating further into
Nubia, either by land or water, we left Es Suan on the 8th
of December, and, after having employed several days at the in-
termediate places, arrived at Thebes on the 20th, and remained
there till the 8th of January.
At Kenneh we found the Kiachef, who is charged with the pro-
tection of the Caravan of Cosseir: he had been beaten a few
days before by theAtouni Arabs, who had plundered and dispersed
the Caravan. In these circumstances we found it impossible with-
out great risk, time and expense, to accomplish our intention
of examining the port of Cosseir, and the roads of the Desert.
Alter passing a week at Dendera, we continued to descend the
river; and at Farshiut once more fell in with the camp of Elfi
Bey. lie had made a forced march across the Desert from Esneh
to avoid the bend of the Nile below Dendera, and had sent for-
ward
and by the punctuality with which they had paid for every arti-
cle of provision, that in the same places where the French dared
not carry on their inquiries without a strong escort, we could
walk unattended and unarmed ; and we were actually encamped
for several days under the sepulchres of Thebes, inhabited by the
people of Gournon, so much celebrated for their robberies and
ferocity; and we employed them in searching the tombs for mum-
mies, manuscripts of papyrus, idols, vases, and that endless va-
riety of Egyptian relics which these sepulchres contain.
On our arrival likewise at EsSuan, the governor with his whole
suite came on board our boat, to deliver up to us the keys of his
fortress; so firmly was he convinced that we had been detached
from the army to take possession of the town in the name of the
British and Turkish governments : and it was some time before
we could undeceive him in an error he seemed most willingly to
indulge.
Being thwarted in our intentions of penetrating further into
Nubia, either by land or water, we left Es Suan on the 8th
of December, and, after having employed several days at the in-
termediate places, arrived at Thebes on the 20th, and remained
there till the 8th of January.
At Kenneh we found the Kiachef, who is charged with the pro-
tection of the Caravan of Cosseir: he had been beaten a few
days before by theAtouni Arabs, who had plundered and dispersed
the Caravan. In these circumstances we found it impossible with-
out great risk, time and expense, to accomplish our intention
of examining the port of Cosseir, and the roads of the Desert.
Alter passing a week at Dendera, we continued to descend the
river; and at Farshiut once more fell in with the camp of Elfi
Bey. lie had made a forced march across the Desert from Esneh
to avoid the bend of the Nile below Dendera, and had sent for-
ward