DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4372#0042
Elwab, in a district called Debode. This name is given to a
narrow slip of cultivable land on each side of the Desert, vary-
ing from 50 to 500 yards in breadth. The Doura we found just
ripe; bailey had been sown about ten days, for which the soil
had been divided into small squares, for the convenience of
watering from the channels which surrounded them, VYe found
that the river, at this distance above the Cataracts, had already
fallen six-and-thirty feet, though at Assouan the fall "was not yet
of more than 15 feet. The river was about a quarter of a mile
broad, with a current " deep, majestic, smooth, and strong," unin-
terrupted by rocks, and forming a striking contrast with the tur-
bulence below. In the few villages we passed, the people were
civil, offered us Youurt*, and saluted us cordially with the Salam
aleikoum—Health be to you ! As all the male inhabitants Mere
at work in the fields, the women would rush from their cottages
built of mud bricks, or loose stones, to stare at us: these were
unveiled, but had a kind of hood which they could draw over their
faces at pleasure. The right nostril was pierced with a brass ring,
and they were laden with necklaces, and bracelets of beads, shells,
and small bones. Their hair dressed in front and at the sides in
small short ringlets, plaistered with butter or other grease.
We found the Bey sitting on the ground at the door of his
tent, giving directions to three or four of the Biehare Arabs, who
were attendant on his camp, and whom he used as Scouts and
Spies. lie seemed to treat them with much condescension, and
it was evident that he considered himself as very dependent on
them for his safety and subsistence. They wore a long straight
sword, which they held in both hands behind their backs: some
had for shoes a piece of thick leather tied under the sole of their
feet; but they were in general bare-footed, and their only clothing
* A preparation of milk peculiar to the Levant, and a very favourite food with Turks
and Arabs of all ranks.
a plain
narrow slip of cultivable land on each side of the Desert, vary-
ing from 50 to 500 yards in breadth. The Doura we found just
ripe; bailey had been sown about ten days, for which the soil
had been divided into small squares, for the convenience of
watering from the channels which surrounded them, VYe found
that the river, at this distance above the Cataracts, had already
fallen six-and-thirty feet, though at Assouan the fall "was not yet
of more than 15 feet. The river was about a quarter of a mile
broad, with a current " deep, majestic, smooth, and strong," unin-
terrupted by rocks, and forming a striking contrast with the tur-
bulence below. In the few villages we passed, the people were
civil, offered us Youurt*, and saluted us cordially with the Salam
aleikoum—Health be to you ! As all the male inhabitants Mere
at work in the fields, the women would rush from their cottages
built of mud bricks, or loose stones, to stare at us: these were
unveiled, but had a kind of hood which they could draw over their
faces at pleasure. The right nostril was pierced with a brass ring,
and they were laden with necklaces, and bracelets of beads, shells,
and small bones. Their hair dressed in front and at the sides in
small short ringlets, plaistered with butter or other grease.
We found the Bey sitting on the ground at the door of his
tent, giving directions to three or four of the Biehare Arabs, who
were attendant on his camp, and whom he used as Scouts and
Spies. lie seemed to treat them with much condescension, and
it was evident that he considered himself as very dependent on
them for his safety and subsistence. They wore a long straight
sword, which they held in both hands behind their backs: some
had for shoes a piece of thick leather tied under the sole of their
feet; but they were in general bare-footed, and their only clothing
* A preparation of milk peculiar to the Levant, and a very favourite food with Turks
and Arabs of all ranks.
a plain