DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4020#0072
60 TRAVELS IN EGYPT
kept at some distance, to see what we mould undertake; but all our ambition
was only to arrive safe and sound at our barque. As soon as we were got thither
we kept ourselves quiet; more especially I, to whom so great a motion had
caused the abscess to break, which gave me great relief.
There is something very surprizing in this jealoufy, that the Turks and the
Arabs (hew for their antiquities, whenever they see a stranger come to examine
them. This jealousy is so much the more surprizing, as you plainly perceive
that they have no great value for them themselves, and if they find too much
difficulty to demolish them, they cover over the figures with mud and dirt, and
employ these venerable monuments as slails for their cattle, which fills them
with ordure. But as far as one can comprehend, and as I have already insinuated
in more than one place, the true cause of this jealousy arises from superstition,
which runs through the country, and persuades them, that all foreigners are so
many magicians, and that the designs they draw are so many talismans.
Iought not to forget to mention, that the parats are not current at Eslenay,
nor above it. They have for commerce nothing but bourbes, of which twelve
make a parat, or scvillans that are taken in payment for an hundred parats
a-piece.
Another, remark I have to make is, that there is nothing more scarce
here than wood. We wanted to purchase some, but we could get none for
money.
Lastly I must observe, that the Arabs who dwell beyond Essenay, are
called Ababuda, They are rebels, and force is continually requisite for making
them obey.
I n the evening, at six o'clock, the cachefF set out in a barque, accompanied
with two others, laden with soldiers. His departure was honoured with the sound
of tymbals, which he had on board his barque. Two hours after we set sail, and
we had a favourable wind.
Tuesday, 17th of December.
W E had scarce sailed half an hour, before the wind ceased. This obliged us,
after having parted
D u e e g, a village, a little above EsTenay, and on the same side, to go ashore
near to
Se r n 11 g, another village, situated to theeaft of the Nile, and a little matter
higher than that of Dueeg. We had no sooner fattened our barque, than one
of those that had been laden with soldiers, came and placed itself quite close to
us. This neighbourhood gave us some uneasiness. They are so little disciplined,
and so insolent, that there is no pleasure in having any thing to do with them.
We took care to keep ourselves well upon our guard. Luckily the wind arose in
an hour's time, and we quitted this place to pursue our voyage.
In
kept at some distance, to see what we mould undertake; but all our ambition
was only to arrive safe and sound at our barque. As soon as we were got thither
we kept ourselves quiet; more especially I, to whom so great a motion had
caused the abscess to break, which gave me great relief.
There is something very surprizing in this jealoufy, that the Turks and the
Arabs (hew for their antiquities, whenever they see a stranger come to examine
them. This jealousy is so much the more surprizing, as you plainly perceive
that they have no great value for them themselves, and if they find too much
difficulty to demolish them, they cover over the figures with mud and dirt, and
employ these venerable monuments as slails for their cattle, which fills them
with ordure. But as far as one can comprehend, and as I have already insinuated
in more than one place, the true cause of this jealousy arises from superstition,
which runs through the country, and persuades them, that all foreigners are so
many magicians, and that the designs they draw are so many talismans.
Iought not to forget to mention, that the parats are not current at Eslenay,
nor above it. They have for commerce nothing but bourbes, of which twelve
make a parat, or scvillans that are taken in payment for an hundred parats
a-piece.
Another, remark I have to make is, that there is nothing more scarce
here than wood. We wanted to purchase some, but we could get none for
money.
Lastly I must observe, that the Arabs who dwell beyond Essenay, are
called Ababuda, They are rebels, and force is continually requisite for making
them obey.
I n the evening, at six o'clock, the cachefF set out in a barque, accompanied
with two others, laden with soldiers. His departure was honoured with the sound
of tymbals, which he had on board his barque. Two hours after we set sail, and
we had a favourable wind.
Tuesday, 17th of December.
W E had scarce sailed half an hour, before the wind ceased. This obliged us,
after having parted
D u e e g, a village, a little above EsTenay, and on the same side, to go ashore
near to
Se r n 11 g, another village, situated to theeaft of the Nile, and a little matter
higher than that of Dueeg. We had no sooner fattened our barque, than one
of those that had been laden with soldiers, came and placed itself quite close to
us. This neighbourhood gave us some uneasiness. They are so little disciplined,
and so insolent, that there is no pleasure in having any thing to do with them.
We took care to keep ourselves well upon our guard. Luckily the wind arose in
an hour's time, and we quitted this place to pursue our voyage.
In