DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11637#0189
A>'D LOWER EGYPT. 173
in the neighbourhood. If you continue to proceed
in the same direction, that is, to the west, beyond
the River without Water, in the desert of Libya,
you will meet with fertile districts, covered with
date trees and various other plants, but without a
single inhabitant. So at least I was assured by the
monks and the Arabs of the desert.
A Cophtic peasant, arriving from Terrana,
brought us some news of our Bedouin robbers.
Not supposing that I should remain several days
in such a bare and wretched place, they had
waited for me behind the Syrian Monastery, Z«>'./;'
Sourian, till they were tired, and supposed, by my
not arriving, that I had gone some other way.
However, that they might not have to regret the
loss of so much time from their predatory occu-
pation, they had proceeded to the environs of
Terrana, where they had carried off the camels,
and pillaged the provision, of a company of pea-
sants who were coming for natron. The man
who told us this story, had fMt with them leading
away the camels they had taken.
The day after this man arrived, I discovered in
the morning the recent footkteps of a horse round
the walls, and had no doubt but we should soon
sec some Arabs. In fact, a few hours after the bell
at the gate was rung violently. It was by a troop
of
in the neighbourhood. If you continue to proceed
in the same direction, that is, to the west, beyond
the River without Water, in the desert of Libya,
you will meet with fertile districts, covered with
date trees and various other plants, but without a
single inhabitant. So at least I was assured by the
monks and the Arabs of the desert.
A Cophtic peasant, arriving from Terrana,
brought us some news of our Bedouin robbers.
Not supposing that I should remain several days
in such a bare and wretched place, they had
waited for me behind the Syrian Monastery, Z«>'./;'
Sourian, till they were tired, and supposed, by my
not arriving, that I had gone some other way.
However, that they might not have to regret the
loss of so much time from their predatory occu-
pation, they had proceeded to the environs of
Terrana, where they had carried off the camels,
and pillaged the provision, of a company of pea-
sants who were coming for natron. The man
who told us this story, had fMt with them leading
away the camels they had taken.
The day after this man arrived, I discovered in
the morning the recent footkteps of a horse round
the walls, and had no doubt but we should soon
sec some Arabs. In fact, a few hours after the bell
at the gate was rung violently. It was by a troop
of