DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4020#0069
AND NUBIA.
57
Saturday, 14th of December.
WE had no wind, so that we were obliged to have recourse again to the cord,
and it was by this means that we advanced, from Arment, quite to
Ell Retsegaet, a village situated on the same side. The ground that lyes
between thesetwo villages, and which may be a league and half in extent, is full
°f ancient ruins that are extremely remarkable.
I n continuing our voyage, we saw succeslively upon the eaftern shore of the
Nile five villages, namely
Hambdie, Magdschergarona, Tot, formerly Typhium, Senemie,
and Gibbaeg. The last of these villages is situated opposite to that of
Demegraed. This occupies the place of the ancient Crocodilopolis. We can;
anchor near it, and our people that landed in this place, killed there some geese
of the Nile.
I f o u n d myself, that day, pretty well recovered, excepting a little weakness,
which still continued.
The lands about Demegraed appeared to have been neglected. They have
not cultivated them since the last inundation of the Nile; and the sun had so
parched them, that they were full of cracks, so deep, that I could not reach the
bottom with a zagaye, or Moorisri dart, of six feet in length. They were, how-
ever, at this time, applying themselves to cultivate them, and six oxen yoked to
a plough, had a great deal of disficulty to turn up the ground.
SuNDAY,i5thof December,
W E had a favourable wind the whole night; but our reys was not in a
humour to set sail. When day began to appear, our people landed to go a
^looting, and left me alone aboard with the Jew valet.
There had been a great calm all the morning, but towards eight o'clock, a
freih wind having arisen, the reys was endeavouring to take advantage of it. The
Jew valet would have a native of Barbary go and call our people; he said he
would not. They came to words, disputed, and grew warm to such a degree,
that the Barberin, who had a piece of wood in his hand, gave a blow with it
upon the head of the Jew. The latter endeavoured to defend himself, but he
Was soon overpowered by other blows. I ran to his succour, with my pistol in
*ny hand. The sight of this fire-arm immediately separated the combatants.
However, as such disputes might be attended with ill consequences, I ordered
the reys to give notice to his Barberins, that if ever afterwards any of them
dared to touch our people, he would run a risque of being killed like a dog, this
is the expression that is used in the country. The reys took the expreslion in its
literal sense; and my menace had so good an effe£ts that from that time there
was no more any dispute.
Vol. II. Q^ The
57
Saturday, 14th of December.
WE had no wind, so that we were obliged to have recourse again to the cord,
and it was by this means that we advanced, from Arment, quite to
Ell Retsegaet, a village situated on the same side. The ground that lyes
between thesetwo villages, and which may be a league and half in extent, is full
°f ancient ruins that are extremely remarkable.
I n continuing our voyage, we saw succeslively upon the eaftern shore of the
Nile five villages, namely
Hambdie, Magdschergarona, Tot, formerly Typhium, Senemie,
and Gibbaeg. The last of these villages is situated opposite to that of
Demegraed. This occupies the place of the ancient Crocodilopolis. We can;
anchor near it, and our people that landed in this place, killed there some geese
of the Nile.
I f o u n d myself, that day, pretty well recovered, excepting a little weakness,
which still continued.
The lands about Demegraed appeared to have been neglected. They have
not cultivated them since the last inundation of the Nile; and the sun had so
parched them, that they were full of cracks, so deep, that I could not reach the
bottom with a zagaye, or Moorisri dart, of six feet in length. They were, how-
ever, at this time, applying themselves to cultivate them, and six oxen yoked to
a plough, had a great deal of disficulty to turn up the ground.
SuNDAY,i5thof December,
W E had a favourable wind the whole night; but our reys was not in a
humour to set sail. When day began to appear, our people landed to go a
^looting, and left me alone aboard with the Jew valet.
There had been a great calm all the morning, but towards eight o'clock, a
freih wind having arisen, the reys was endeavouring to take advantage of it. The
Jew valet would have a native of Barbary go and call our people; he said he
would not. They came to words, disputed, and grew warm to such a degree,
that the Barberin, who had a piece of wood in his hand, gave a blow with it
upon the head of the Jew. The latter endeavoured to defend himself, but he
Was soon overpowered by other blows. I ran to his succour, with my pistol in
*ny hand. The sight of this fire-arm immediately separated the combatants.
However, as such disputes might be attended with ill consequences, I ordered
the reys to give notice to his Barberins, that if ever afterwards any of them
dared to touch our people, he would run a risque of being killed like a dog, this
is the expression that is used in the country. The reys took the expreslion in its
literal sense; and my menace had so good an effe£ts that from that time there
was no more any dispute.
Vol. II. Q^ The