TURKISH FORTRESS impossible. We passed through the gateway and up a second slope, and then found ourselves on a large, flat, open, space, whereon rows of barracks must have stood. This is surrounded by mighty walls made of crude brick, portions of which, in an excellent state of preservation, still remain. We searched carefully everywhere, but could find no trace of the existence of Egyptian antiquities, and from this fact and the general plan of the gate and its approaches, which seemed to me to resemble the fortifications of mediaeval castles in Eastern Europe and Asia Minor, I came to the conclusion that this fortress was built about three hundred years ago. From the river side, before the days of modern artillery, it was impregnable, but there was one part of it, on the land side, which, it seemed to me, might be captured without great difficulty by a large force. So far as we could see there was no well in this castle. The general appearance of the stronghold suggested the possibility that it had been built and held by foreign troops, say the Turkish soldiers of Sultan Selim in the first quarter of the sixteenth century, who swept down from its heights and seized whatever they could find on the river banks, or plundered passing caravans in the Western Desert. The agricultural produce of the country round about is little now, and it never can have been great, and it is therefore clear that the large garrison stationed here must have drawn upon other resources for its means of subsistence. This fortress is very interesting, and every one who travels in that portion of the Nile Valley should certainly visit it. The time passed so quickly in exploring the fortress that when we came back to our boat the day was turning to sunset ; we therefore hurried away from the bank, and the crew rowed with a will. We were all anxious to reach Sarras before nightfall, for there are many rocks in the channels, and navigation in the dark is difficult. We made good progress, and the crew began to sing and to invoke the aid of the Prophet to second their efforts. Every now and then they also called upon one Isa to help them. Now Isa is the Arabic form of the name "Jesus," and some travellers who have heard the Nubian boatmen calling upon Isa have thought that they were invoking Jesus of Nazareth, and have declared that the knowledge of His Name must have come down 495