settled here a year ago; the
island they had occupied before having been overflowed by the river, and
their plantations destroyed.

25th of Safa. This day made but little progress, there having been a
calm for more than half the day; what country we saw resembled that
passed yesterday.

26th of Safa. Remained fast by the shore for the whole of this day, the
wind being ahead. The country on the west bank of the river, where we
stopped, is fine, but deserted by the inhabitants. Some of the boat's
company, who went up the country in search of provisions, reported that
they had seen the ruins of a temple, containing fragments of columns
of black granite. I determined, in case the wind on the morrow should
continue unfavorable, to visit this place. They also had met a party of
fifteen armed men, who informed them that they belonged to this country,
but had been compelled to quit it, and fly, by the brigands of Shageia,
who had infested and ravaged the country, but had returned on hearing
that the Pasha Ismael had defeated and expelled these robbers, and had
invited every fugitive peasant to return home, giving them assurance of
future safety and protection. We were alarmed this evening by the report
of several musket shot, which appeared to come from the other side of
the river, where, we had been told, still lurked some of the brigands.
Prepared our arms to be ready in case of attack, but passed the night
unmolested.

27th of Safa. Early in the morning, quitted the shore with a fair wind,
and proceeded on our voyage; Dongola being, we were told, but half a
day's distance from us. The appearance of the country still the same.

28th of Safa. Made but little way today, the wind being light. About the
middle of the afternoon, put to shore on the east bank of the river,
as there appeared to be no villages in sight on the other shore, and we
were in want of provisions. The country we saw to-day is very good, and
covered with trees, but sparely inhabited.

The country where we landed was, however, tolerably well cultivated by
the inhabitants of several villages hereabouts. The soil, where it was
not cultivated, was completely covered with trees, generally of no great
height, and with bushes and long rank grass. The habitations of many
of the inhabitants could with difficulty be found; they are frequently
nothing but a rough arbor formed in the thickets. We had continual
reason to be surprised, that a country naturally so rich