DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11636#0392
and lower egypt.
359
CHAP. XXI.
Bedouins—Birds—Boghass—Tower of Canopus—
Abou-Mandour — Grapes — Desert — Jackal; —
Lizards — Insects - Serpent—Difficulties respect-
ing the pyramid of Aboukit—Opinion of the
Egyptians with regard to travellers,
On my return from Aboukir, I bad a wish to
take a near view of tbe Mouth of the Nile, the
Boghass, so celebrated on account of its dangers,
and of the shipwrecks which happen there. The
vice-consul, his drogman, and a French mer-
chant had a desire to be of the party, and we took
our departure, mounted on asses. We stopped in
the gardens above the castle; some Bedouin Arabs
were encamped there; their tents were not large,
and still less comfortable; they announced the
wretchedness of those to whom they served as a
shelter. The women do not cover tljeir faces, as
is the custom of those people who are settled in
Egypt. The freshness of youth rendered those
who were the least aged among them sufficiently
agreeable, notwithstanding the embrowned tint of
their skin, and they seemed to be of a very com-
plaisant disposition.
We were very soon surrounded by these women,
who demanded some assistance from us; one or
a a 4 two
359
CHAP. XXI.
Bedouins—Birds—Boghass—Tower of Canopus—
Abou-Mandour — Grapes — Desert — Jackal; —
Lizards — Insects - Serpent—Difficulties respect-
ing the pyramid of Aboukit—Opinion of the
Egyptians with regard to travellers,
On my return from Aboukir, I bad a wish to
take a near view of tbe Mouth of the Nile, the
Boghass, so celebrated on account of its dangers,
and of the shipwrecks which happen there. The
vice-consul, his drogman, and a French mer-
chant had a desire to be of the party, and we took
our departure, mounted on asses. We stopped in
the gardens above the castle; some Bedouin Arabs
were encamped there; their tents were not large,
and still less comfortable; they announced the
wretchedness of those to whom they served as a
shelter. The women do not cover tljeir faces, as
is the custom of those people who are settled in
Egypt. The freshness of youth rendered those
who were the least aged among them sufficiently
agreeable, notwithstanding the embrowned tint of
their skin, and they seemed to be of a very com-
plaisant disposition.
We were very soon surrounded by these women,
who demanded some assistance from us; one or
a a 4 two