They told me likewise that
the natives inhabited this barren spot of Al Kossir, as being the
nearest harbour on the coast of the Red Sea to the Nile, whence
provisions were transported; and that the inhabitants were satisfied
with slight matts instead of roofs to their houses because not troubled
with rain, and the matts were a sufficient protection from the sun: but
made their walls of stone to defend themselves against the malignity and
rapaciousness of the Badwis, a perverse people, void of all goodness,
who often suddenly assaulted the place in hope of plunder, and
frequently pillaged the caravans coming across from the Nile with
provisions and other commodities.
[Footnote 308: No wonder, as Messr is the name by which Egypt is known
to the Arabs. - E.]
[Footnote 309: More properly Al Rif, which name more particularly
belongs to part of Lower Egypt. - Ast.]
[Footnote 310: This is erroneous, as the Nile only overflows once
yearly. - E.]
The 18th of April we fastened ourselves to a shoal about four leagues
past Kossir, and set sail from thence at noon.
