RELIGIOUS DIVISION OF THE COPTS. 199 it. Tliis by no means large religious sect is, however, again divided into two, one of which holds by the old faith and ritual, and the other, headed by Basilius Bey, at present on account of his fits of drunken passion exiled to Tachta, and also by Sergius Bey and Tobia Bey, would wish to introduce some changes.

These would join the Catholic Cliurch, and are also inclined to listen to the Enarlish missionaries.

CHAP. XL March from Daluuib.— A Sham Fight.— Schaigiep.— Sufferings from Heat ar.cl Thirst.— Choice of Camp.— Kasscla-el-Lus.— Escape of Female Slaves. Storm of Rain.

After a halt of six days in the camp at Dabiiab, the army again marched at dawn. The first country we parsed was flat and stony, only here and there showed some low bushes, though its monotonousness Avas made somewhat more tolerable by the view of the Hill of Kasscla, on which we marched. The Avhole land was covered with small pieces of granite, pebbles, and stones, which had been washed and rolled down from the mountains by floods, although these hills wei'e yet a day's journey distant. After three long hours, our progress was interrupted by six or eight small gohrs, which from the rain of the former week had been converted into large swamps, and promised much annoying fatigue, especially to the baggage camels. The fields round about showed no trace of having ever been cultivated, and the grasses also had almost vanished from the surfjice ; the trees were very small and few. Of living animals we only saw one ostrich, and this at a considerable distance, hurrying rapidly off on its long legs, while a few birds of prey, like solitary specks, floated over our heads. At length, fully two hours distant from all the other hiUs, rose in this large stei'ile plain a round conical hillock of some 150 or 200 feet high. The position seemed to plainly mark it out as some ancient monument, and we fancied we saw ruins on it ; but, on riding up to it, we were disappointed in only