RELIGIOUS DIVISION OF THE COPTS. 199 it. This by no means large religious sect is, hoAvever, 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 Church, and are also inclined ta listen to the Encrlish missionaries.

CHAP. XI.

March fnim Daliaab.— A Sliaiu Fight.— Schaigics.— Sufferings from Heat antl Thirst.— Choice of Camp.— Kassela-cl-Lus.— Escape of Female Slaves. Storm of Rain.

After a halt of six days in the camp at Dabaab, the army again marched at dawn. The first country Ave passed was flat and stony, only here and there showed some low bushes, though its monotonousness was made Sf)meAvhat more tolerable by the view of the Hill of Kassela, on which we marched. The whole land Avas covered Avith s>inaU pieces of granite, pebbles, and stones,.

Avhich had been Avashed and rolled down from the mountains by floods, although these hills Avere yet a day's journey distant.

After three long hours, our progress Avas interrupted by six or eight small gohrs, Avhich from the rain of the former Aveek had been converted into large swamps, and promised nmch annoying faiigue, especially to the baggage camels. The Helds round about showed no trace of having ever been cultivated, and the grasses also had almost vanished from the surface ; the trees were \ery small and few. Of living animals Ave only saw one ostrich, and this at a considerable tlistanec, hurrying rapidly oft' 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 hills, rose in this large sterile 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 Ave fancied Ave saAV ruins on it; but, on riding up to it, we Avere disai>pointed in only