gest, has been observed on the occafion. The name of the unhappy person is suppressed, and self-vindication alone could have induced him to revive a fubject, which more nearly affected the author and his companions, than all their subsequent misfortunes!

1

To conclude. Were books, any more than men, to be judged only by their good intentions were no regard to be paid to the figure which they make in the world-this work would have a better chance to maintain its ground. But as there are other points to be confidered; as truth can only be rendered efficacious in an amiable dress, and as the justest defcriptions must be disgraced by inelegant language, the author cannot divest himself of certain sensations, which must disturb the firmest mind, on the eve of committing its thoughts to the discussion of the public.

CONTENTS.

:

LETTER I. Page 1.

ADDRESS-The author purfues his voyage from Madras to Suez
-Tedious passage across the Indian ocean. Makes the island of
Socotra, Cape Guardafoy, the Arabian shore-Enters the Red-fea by
the straits of Babelmandel-Hard Gale-Arrival in Mocha road-
Occurrences at that city-Embarks again-Contrary winds-The
vessel driven by currents on the Arabian coast-In imminent danger
of being wrecked among the shoals and breakers---Obliged to put into
the port of Yambo for a pilot-The author, &c. feduced ashore,
and made prisoners by the vizier of that place-Incidents during
their confinement-The craft and villainy of the Arabs apparent in
their attempts to possess themselves of the veffel-Stratagem for that
purpose-Its fuccefs-The vessel brought into the harbor, and the
author, &c. return aboard under a guard, until an answer is received
from the Xerif of Mecca, touching their destiny-A description of
the town and environs of Yambo-Interviews with the vizier-In-
Stances of his duplicity and pride-Various disappointments in the
hope of a speedy answer-The shawbunder of Judda at length ar-
rives, charged with powers from the Xerif, to dispose of the vessel
and crew-Negociations on that head-The vessel is carried to Jud-
da, under charge of an Arabian pilot, and the author and his
fellow-travellers are allowed to proceed-Presents to the vizier on
this occafion - Egregiously impofed upon by this minister in the bire
of a veffel-They embark on an open loat for Suez.

Journal of the boat Impofition-Detained by contrary winds at the

mouth of the harbor-Alarm at the sudden disappearance of one of

the author's fellow-travellers and the interpreter-They are fent

back to the boat by the vizier-The boat fails to the northward, and

puts into a bay on the coast-Encounters two barks bound to the

Southward-Unhappy symptoms of a disordered mind appear in the gen-

tleman who abfconded-He awakens the apprehenfions of the Arabs,

who infift on his quitting the boat, and returning on one of the barks

to Judda-The abfolute neceffity of complying with this requifition-

The distress of the author and his companions on this melancholy oc-

cafion-The boat fails again-Difficulties of this extraordinary na-

vigation-Touches at feveral islands on the Arabian coaft-Tedious

paffage to the gulf of Akaba-Strange instance of the notion of the

dominion of evil spirits-Makes the fhore adjacent to Mount Sinai-

Cape Mahomet-Enters the gulf of Suez-The boat is run over to

the Egyptian shore in the night, and instead of Suez, by the trea-

chery of the Arabs, is carried to Cofire, a port of Upper Egypt,

near four degrees to the southward of Suez-The vexation of the

author and his companions-Conclufion.

LETTER II. Page 119.

ADDRESS-The author, &c. land at Cofire-Their reception

and accommodation there--Occurrences at that place-The de-
mands of the government for its protection of our travellers-Unac-
countable behavior of the Arab fhaik-They set out with the cara-
van for Ghinnab on the Nile, under the care of the shaik's fon-
Part with the caravan-Alarm-Inconveniency of this mode of
travelling-Intense beat of the fun-They replenish their skins at fome
Springs-Pursue their way, and experience extreme distress from
thirst, beat, and fatigue-Relieved by their arrival at the Nile-
Surprized at being carried to Banute instead of Ghiunah-Remon-
strate with the young shaik, who confents to take them to that city-

:

Set

Set out accordingly, and in fix hours are safely housed at Ghinnah-
The villainy of their hoft and his family-Are visited by the vizier
of the place—Attempts to chouse them out of their money and effects
-Find themselves close prisoners-Their baggage searched and re-
peatedly pillaged by the host and his affociates-Vifit from the ha-
keem of the city, by the order of his master, the Shaik Ul Arab-
Enquiry into their wrongs-Tumult in the house on that account-
Uncommon instance of courage and fidelity in an Arab domestic-The
bakeem removes our travellers to his own habitation-He is fup-
planted in his office by an Abyssinian, who, at the express commands
of the shaik, takes them under his protection-The meanness and
rapacity of this flave-Advice comes to Ghinnah of a robbery and
murder committed on their late inhuman hoft, in a dispute with the
young shaik of Cofire about his ill-gotten booty-Reflections on this
tragical event-The arrival of the Shaik Ul Arab-His interview
with our travellers-His perfon and character described-His po-
liteness and humanity-Exemplary instances of his impartiality and.
justice-Unhappy state of the country of Egypt-Rebellion on the
Nile-The paffage to Cairo by the river shut up-Doubts how to
proceed-Our travellers resolve to pursue their route through the
defarts of Thebais-Are confirmed in this intention by the good shaik,
who provides them with a conductor, and essentially interests himself
in their Safety-They take leave of their generous benefactor, and
enter the defarts with a body of fixteen—The rugged and mountain-
ous face of the country-Unexpectedly fall in with a party of ca-
mels, which proves to be a band of robbers, journeying from the Red-
fea towards Cairo-A treaty concluded with the captain of the rob-
bers-An Arab feast-The two parties proceed in company-Diffi-
culties of the road-Continual ranges of mountains every where pre-
fent themselves to the traveller-Sudden tranfitions from heat to cold
in the course of the journey-Replenish their water-fkins twice in the
defart-Provisions begin to fail with the author and his companions
-Readily
-Readily relieved by the robbers-Their forbearance and strict ob-
fervance of their word-Halt in the neighborhood of the Nile to
procure water-Alarm-Strike into the defart, and pass over rocks
of granite or Thebaic marble-Obtain a fight of the Nile, and come
upon the encampment of the robbers-The author, &c. part with
these fingular people-Remarks on their hofpitality and good faith-
Rejoin the Nile—Travel on its banks-Pass the villages of Vel Ha-
die and Iscour, and difcern the pyramids to the westward of the river
-Halt at Tinnah, and engage a boat to convey them the remaining
Short distance-Joyfully embark for the capital-Happy arrival
there, and friendly reception by the Company's agent.

Occurrences at Grand Cairo—Curfory obfervations on the city and its
antiquities-Concise narrative of the late revolution in Egypt-Our
travellers return letters and presents to the worthy Shaik Ul Arab
by the camels, and embark for Alexandria-Delightful voyage down
the Nile Review of the towns and country on its banks-Arrive at
Rofetto-Beauty of its fituation-The road to Alexandria infested
with robbers-Reimbark in a boat bound to that port-Critical
fituation at the bogage, or mouth of the Nile—The boat ftrikes
the fands, but luckily escapes, and enters the Mediterranean-
Dreary appearance of the coast of Egypt-They Safely reach
Alexandria, after a passage of fixteen hours-Some account of that
city, and the elegant remains in its neighborhood-Droll anecdote
of fome English captains-Affecting story of the death of the late
French Conful of Alexandria-Occurrences at that city-The au-
thor and his companions embark on a French Ship for Marseilles
-Conclufion-Poftfcript.

APPENDIX. Page 394.

AN Ode to the Defart, and another to the Nile, referrea to
this place from the body of the Work.