DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5295#0039
c20 TRAVELS IN EGYPT, NUBIA,
a shore lined with palm-trees, mosques, and the tombs of
sheiks, meet the eye at every opening; combined with the
creaking of water-wheels, the peculiar manner in which the
natives raise water when they have not wheels, to irrigate the
land, interest him for a long time; but the sameness will at
last tire. It is one unvaried scene from Rosetta to Cairo,
which at my departure was heightened by a glowing sun-set.
My boat had a covering of mats on some palm-branches,
arched over one end of it. I was able to place my bed
at the bottom, and lay clown during the night, which was
passed at anchor near the shore; but the numerous rats that
infested me prevented the possibility of sleep. I had not yet
accustomed myself to these constant attendants of a traveller
on the Nile. The heavy dews which fell surprised me; for
although the heavens were clear of fog, yet my clothes were
almost wet through. The difference of the heat of the day
and cold of the night was very trying, and I found the effects
of this change almost immediately on my eyes.
The various villages which I passed were well peopled.
Numerous passengers on horses, asses, and camels, skirted
the shores of the Nile. Though provisions appeared to me a
mere drug, from their great comparative cheapness with those
of'the countries I had left, yet beggars were every where
to be seen, even when the necessaries of life were fully sup-
plied for six or seven paras, of which forty make eightpence.
a shore lined with palm-trees, mosques, and the tombs of
sheiks, meet the eye at every opening; combined with the
creaking of water-wheels, the peculiar manner in which the
natives raise water when they have not wheels, to irrigate the
land, interest him for a long time; but the sameness will at
last tire. It is one unvaried scene from Rosetta to Cairo,
which at my departure was heightened by a glowing sun-set.
My boat had a covering of mats on some palm-branches,
arched over one end of it. I was able to place my bed
at the bottom, and lay clown during the night, which was
passed at anchor near the shore; but the numerous rats that
infested me prevented the possibility of sleep. I had not yet
accustomed myself to these constant attendants of a traveller
on the Nile. The heavy dews which fell surprised me; for
although the heavens were clear of fog, yet my clothes were
almost wet through. The difference of the heat of the day
and cold of the night was very trying, and I found the effects
of this change almost immediately on my eyes.
The various villages which I passed were well peopled.
Numerous passengers on horses, asses, and camels, skirted
the shores of the Nile. Though provisions appeared to me a
mere drug, from their great comparative cheapness with those
of'the countries I had left, yet beggars were every where
to be seen, even when the necessaries of life were fully sup-
plied for six or seven paras, of which forty make eightpence.