annon were drawn by camels from the third cataract to
Sennaar, and the horses were led harnessed by their respective guns,
ready to be clapped on if necessary. I venture to recommend the same
procedure in all marches of artillery in the east.]

[Footnote 42: The other side of the river, at least as often and as far
as we could see it, presented the same appearance. The only mountains we
saw on the other side of the river, were those of "Attar Baal," at the
foot of which (they lie near the river, about three days march north of
Shendi) are, as I have learned, to be seen the ruins of a city, temples,
and fifty-four pyramids. This, I am inclined to believe, was the site of
the famous Meroe, the capital of the island of that name. The territory
in which these ruins are found is in fact nearly surrounded by rivers,
being bounded on the west by the Nile, on the south by the rivers Ratt
and Dander, and on the north by the Bahar el Uswood. All these three
rivers empty into the Nile.]

[Footnote 43: The butter of the countries on the Upper Nile is liquid,
like that of Egypt. That, however, which they use to anoint themselves
is of the color and consistence of European butter. We used the latter
in preference, in our cookery.]

[Footnote 44: It includes a great part of the ancient Isle of Meroe.]

[Footnote 45: Malek Shouus, on learning that the Malek of Shendi had
made his peace with the Pasha, threatened to attack him. On this it
is said the Malek of Shendi called out twenty thousand men to line the
easterly bank of the Nile, to prevent the approach of Shouus. Shouus,
however, had the whole country of Shendi on the western side entirely
under his control before our arrival, he and his cavalry devouring their
provisions and drinking their bouza at a most unmerciful rate. On our
approach, he went up opposite Halfya, where the country, on the western
shore, is desert. He demanded of the chief of Halfya, to supply him with
provisions: on his refusal, Shouus, in the night, swam the river with
his cavalry, fell upon the town of Halfya by surprise, and ransacked it
from end to end, and then repassed the river before the chief of Halfya
could collect a force to take his revenge. The cavalry of Shouus, in the
course of the campaign, have swam over the Nile five times: both horse
and man are trained to do this thing, inimitable, I believe, by any
other cavalry in the world. Shouus, since his joining us, has rendered
very important ser