DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4372#0413
'397
the old Saitic branch; which wc afterwards crossed in a ferry
boat. They all empty themselves into the lake Bourlos, near
the coast whence it has taken its name. We passed the small
villages of Shennin and Menshieh, and halted for a time at
Qhalil, where the Sheikh's brother regaled us most hospitably in his
court yard with nearly a hundred small loaves of bread, brought
on a large round mat, which served for a table, eight or nine
earthen bowls of fresh cheese, one of honey, another with dates
preserved in honey and vinegar, and one with dried dates. Bowls
of sour and fresh milk, and cheese-cakes sent as a present from
the Sheikh's harem, closed the repast. Such was the simple but
luxurious and welcome fare, that even a poor village in the cen-
tre of the Delta could produce. I am not, however, sure that
the apparent hospitality of the Sheikh was not afterwards repaid
to him, according to custom, by a small tax laid upon each inha-
bitant. Beyond Qhalil we crossed two large canals, the West-
ernmost of which, the Bahhr Menafieh, appears to occupy the
bed of the Saitic branch. It leaves the llosetta branch at Me-
hallet Dyaz, and flows like the rest into the lake Bourlos. A
league beyond this canal wTe reach Shu bass, and halt for the night
at Mehallet-Abou-Ali, about two miles further, on the liosetta
branch. From Semennud we calculated that we had made about
thirty-three miles, thirteen of which were to Misri, and twenty
from Misri to Mehallet-Abou-Ali. The country is one continued
flat, varied only by the mounds of greater or less elevation, on
which the villages stand or have stood ; sometimes in the highest
state of cultivation ; at others either a perfect desert, or produ-
cing only wild reeds and rushes. Near the smaller villages the
channels only of the canals appear to be cultivated, the remain-
der of the ground being too high to admit of much artificial irri-
gation with the present scanty population. Near others, the
Delous
the old Saitic branch; which wc afterwards crossed in a ferry
boat. They all empty themselves into the lake Bourlos, near
the coast whence it has taken its name. We passed the small
villages of Shennin and Menshieh, and halted for a time at
Qhalil, where the Sheikh's brother regaled us most hospitably in his
court yard with nearly a hundred small loaves of bread, brought
on a large round mat, which served for a table, eight or nine
earthen bowls of fresh cheese, one of honey, another with dates
preserved in honey and vinegar, and one with dried dates. Bowls
of sour and fresh milk, and cheese-cakes sent as a present from
the Sheikh's harem, closed the repast. Such was the simple but
luxurious and welcome fare, that even a poor village in the cen-
tre of the Delta could produce. I am not, however, sure that
the apparent hospitality of the Sheikh was not afterwards repaid
to him, according to custom, by a small tax laid upon each inha-
bitant. Beyond Qhalil we crossed two large canals, the West-
ernmost of which, the Bahhr Menafieh, appears to occupy the
bed of the Saitic branch. It leaves the llosetta branch at Me-
hallet Dyaz, and flows like the rest into the lake Bourlos. A
league beyond this canal wTe reach Shu bass, and halt for the night
at Mehallet-Abou-Ali, about two miles further, on the liosetta
branch. From Semennud we calculated that we had made about
thirty-three miles, thirteen of which were to Misri, and twenty
from Misri to Mehallet-Abou-Ali. The country is one continued
flat, varied only by the mounds of greater or less elevation, on
which the villages stand or have stood ; sometimes in the highest
state of cultivation ; at others either a perfect desert, or produ-
cing only wild reeds and rushes. Near the smaller villages the
channels only of the canals appear to be cultivated, the remain-
der of the ground being too high to admit of much artificial irri-
gation with the present scanty population. Near others, the
Delous