TRAVELS OF CAPTAIN NORDKN a cow swimming in front of it : one man held on to the tail of the cow, and the other, who sat behind, guided the beast by a cord fastened to her horns, and steered the bundle of reeds by means of a small oar. When a number of camels had to be taken across the river a man swam before them, holding the bridle of the first camel in his mouth ; the second camel was fastened to the tail of the first, and the third to the tail of the second. The rear was brought up by a man who took care that the second and third camels should follow in line.

When Derr was reached the authorities proposed that the traveller should stay in the town until the new governor arrived, when, as it was intended to make war upon the people of the Second Cataract immediately after his arrival, Captain Norden would be able to continue his journey by land in perfect safety, for Captain Norden would be accompanied by five hundred men.

This proposal was naturally rejected, whereupon the governor not only declared that Captain Norden should not go on, but also that, as the boat in which he had sailed so far up the Nile was the governor's. Captain Norden must turn out of it, as the governor needed it for his own use. As there was no other boat in which he could either go up or down the river. Captain Norden was obliged to come to terms with the governor, and to pay him handsomely for the use of the boat in sailing back to Aswan. Meanwhile a second local authority did not view with favour the idea of losing the opportunity of making more money out of Captain Norden, and he succeeded in persuading the owner of the boat to cry off his bargain, on the ground that the payment to be made for it was insufficient. When he was remonstrated with, the owner of the boat, i.e., the governor, became insolent, and on being reminded that the traveller was under the protection of the " Grand Signior," replied, ** I laugh at the horns of the " Grand Signior, I am here Grand Signior myself, and will teach "you to respect me as you ought. I know already what sort of "people you are. I have consulted my cup, and have found by " it that you are those of whom one of our prophets has said, " ' There would come Franks in disguise, who, by little presents, " and by a soothing and insinuating behaviour would pass every-" where ; examine the state of the country ; go to make a report 15