at thirty-five minutes paſt three we arrived at Halifoon; about five miles from the ferry on the eaſt ſide of the Nile. One mark of the boatmen's attention I cannot but mention: The weather was very hot, and we had plenty of time; the water being clear and tempting, I propoſed ſwimming over to the other ſide for the pleaſure of bathing; but they, one and all, oppoſed my deſign with great violence, and would not ſuffer me to undreſs. They ſaid there was a multitude of crocodiles in the river near that place, and although they were not large enough to kill, or carry off a camel, they very often wounded them, and it would be a wonder if we paſſed without feeing them; indeed the laſt boat had not reached the ſhore before two of them roſe in the middle of the ſtream. I made what haſte I could to get a gun, and fired at the largeſt, but, as far as I could judge, without effect.
On the 22d, at three o'clock in the afternoon we left Halifoon, and by ten at night came to Halfaia, a large, handſome, and pleaſant town, although built with clay. The houſes are terraſſed at the tops, their inhabitants being no longer afraid of the rains, which have been for ſome time here very inconſiderable. The Battaheen were encamped near Umdoom, a large village on the ſide of the river, about ſeven miles from Halifoon. They are a thieviſh, pilfering ſet, and we paſſed them early in the morning, before it was light. The road is very pleaſant, through woods of acacia trees, interſperſed with large fields covered with bent graſs. At Umdoom we found troops of women going to their morning occupation, that of gathering feeds to make bread.
