FRUITS OF ENTERPRIZE INHIBITED IN THK TRAVELS OP BELZONI EGYPT AND NUBIA. >NDON: J, [M KIS AND SON, Vi. -AIL \> CHURCH YARD. ®ije lifcrarp Of tfj£ UnitotrSiip ofi^ortfj Carolina fc^r Cnbolssets fep ®Ije ©talectit anfc pijtlantfjroptc Societies; UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL 00022093262 This BOOK may be kept out TWO WEEKS ONLY, and is subject to a fine of FIVE CENTS a day thereafter. It was taken out on the day indicated below: << _ FRUITS OF ENTERPRIZE Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hil http://archive.org/details/fruitsofenterpriOwils FRUITS OF ENTERPRIZE EXHIBITED sX ./ ,Js IN THE TRAVELS OF BEL Z ONI IX &< f /C" MhA EGYPT AND NUBIA; INTERSPERSED WITH THE OBSERVATIONS OF A MOTHER TO HER CHILDREN BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE INDIA CABINET." , "St " LABOR OMNIA VINCIT. SECOND EDITION. LONDON: PRINTED FOR HARRIS AND SON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD. 1822. LON DON : PRINTED BY COX AND BATLIS, GREAT QUEEN' STREET, LINCOLn's-INN-FIEI.»«. PREFACE. Placed in an amphitheatre of boundless extent, and surrounded by an immense variety of objects, young persons are natu- rally inquisitive, and delighted with every new accession of knowledge ; and as truth is no longer deemed incompatible with amusement, the most pleasing mode of conveying the former appears to be to b© blend it with the latter. a 3 Q ri VI PREFACE. Influenced by such a motive,, the com- piler of this little volume is induced to place it in the Juvenile Library ; and she is happy in having an opportunity of ac- knowledging her thanks to the enterpriz- ing traveller, who has politely given her his permission to do so. CONTENTS. CHAP. I. Bernard's picture. — Situation of Egypt. — Belzoni introduced. — Motives for his going into Egypt. — Poor success of his hy- draulic machine. — His thoughts turned towards the anti- quities of the country. — Difficulty in removing Young Mem- non from Thebes to Cairo. — Belzoni's visit to a Mummy Cave. —Deceit of the Arabs. — Egyptian customs. — Belzoni goes up the Nile into Nubia. — Visits the island of Elephantine.— Arrives at Ybsambul. — Attempts to open its magnificent Temple.— Obliged for want of time and money to give up the project. — Visits the little isle of Mainarty. — Danger on the Cataract. — Returns to Thebes. — Removal of Young Memnon to Cairo. — Belzoni resides for a short time at Rosetta Vlll CONTENTS. CHAP. II. Bernard's perseverance.— Belzoni's second voyage. — Rapid jour- ney from Minieh to Thebes. — Superb Temple at Carnac. — Works carried on both at Gournou and Carnac. — Mummy Caves. — Belzoni's object in entering them. — Manufactures of the ancient Egyptians. — Their Idols. — Curious Habitations at Gournou. — He revisits Ybsambul. — Opens the Temple. — Re- turns highly gratified to Thebes. CHAP. III. Emily amused with a description of Greenland.— Belzoni makes the valley of Beban el Malook the scene of his researches.— He enters and explores the tomb of Psammuthis. — Receives a visit from Hamed Aga. — Returns to Cairo. — Visits the Pyramids. — Time and purpose of their erection uncertain. — Enters one which for more than one thousand years had appeared a solid mass of stone. CHAP. IV. Belzoni's journey to the Red Sea. — Motives for going there. — Inundation of the Nile. — The caravan crosses the Desert. — Ac- count of the Ababde, an independent tribe residing among the CONTENTS. IX rocks on the coast of the Red Sea.— Search for the ancient city of Berenice. — The boats of the Ababde fishermen described. — Discovers the remains of the Berenice mentioned by a former traveller. — Returns towards Esne. —Meets with two shepherd girls tending their sheep on the mountains. — Description of the sufferings travellers undergo in crossing the Deserts.— .The caravan reaches the banks of the Nile. — Belzoni returns to Gournou. CHAP. V. Dr. Franklin's kite.— Some sailors ascend Pompey's Pillar, by means of a paper kite.— Removal of the Obelisk from the island of Philoe. — It falls into the Nile. — Ingenious method of raising it.— It is launched down the Cataract.— Arrives in safety at Rosetta. — Belzoni goes to Beban el Malook.- -Completes his drawings and models of the Tomb. — Bids final adieu to Thebes. — Traverses the western Desert in search of the temple of Jupiter Ammon.— Procures a donkey at Benisoeuf.— Reaches the Lake Moeris. — Rose-trees in profusion. — Visits the temple of Haron among the rocks near the lake. — Attacked by a furious hyena. — Account of the famous Labyrinth. — Visit to the Elloah, — An interview with Khalil Bey. — Account of the Bedouins, — CONTENTS. Belzoni crosses the Desert attended by Scbiek Grumar. — A man rushes out of some bushes.— Arrival at Zaboo. — Interview with the Scheik and Cady of El Cassar. — Belzoni goes to their village. — Discovers the seat of the temple. — Meets with an unfortunate accident on his return to Zaboo. — Reaches Benisceuf. — Arrives at Cairo.— Embarks for Europe.— Returns to England. LIST OF ENGRAVINGS TO ILLUSTRATE THE WORK. Page 1. The Bashaw seated in his Garden on the Banks of the Nile, shooting at an earthen Pot . . . . . . 1 9 2. The Bashaw jumping off the Insulating Stool . . 22 3. The Hydraulic Machine . . . . . . . . 26 4. Young Memnon on its road to the Nile . . . . 35 5. Belzoni with two Arabs in a Mummy Cave . . . . 37 6. Belzoni introduced to Khalil Bey . . , . . . 45 7. The Inhabitants of Mainarty secreting themselves from Belzoni and his Companions . . . . . . 64 8. Mr. and Mrs. Belzoni in a Bark in the middle of the Cataract . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 9. Removing the Sand from the Temple of Ybsambul . . 68 10. Placing the Colossus Head in a Boat .. .. .. 80 1 ] . Belzoni in one of the Grottoes at Gournou . . . . Ill 12. Belzoni crossing the narrow Bridge to get into the Tomb 140 1 3. Some Turks appearing in the Valley for the purpose of interrupting Belzoni .. .. .. .. 145 14. Belzoni viewing the Pyramid whilst his Companions enter it . . . . . . . . , . 1 52 XII LIST OF PLATES. Page 15. Inundation of the Nile, with the distressed state of the Inhabitants of the Country . . . . . . ..166 16. The Caravan setting out .-. .. .. ..170 1 7. The Boats of the Ababde Fishermen . . . . . . 1 93 1 8. Sailors ascending Pompey's Pillar . . . . . . 209 19. Belzoni's Distress in observing a part of the Obelisk in the Water 214 20. The Boat with the Obelisk descending the Cataract .. 218 21. Scene near the Lake Moeris .. .. .. .. 227 22. A furious Hyena makes his Appearance, to the great Dismay of the Boatmen . . . . . . , . 228 23. A man, alarmed at the Appearance of Belzoni and his Companions, presents his Gun, &c . . . . 238 24. Belzoni introduced to the Scheik and Cady of El Cassar. . . . . . . . , . . . . 245 FRUITS OF ENTERPRIZE, CHAP. 1. ' The last — the very last pyramid! dear Laura/' exclaimed the little Bernard, as he climbed upon his sister's chair, and surveyed a sketch that she was copying, from one in a large folio volume. ic And now, when you have shaded the side of that pyramid, will you draw the wheel of my cart ? I am quite, quite tired of your tombs, and your pillars, and your ruins, and your monu- ments, falling this way and that way : — I would much rather know how to draw the spokes of the wheels of my little cart : — it is impossible for me to finish my picture ; — you see I have made my waggon turning down a shady lane, — it is evening — the lamps are lit on the posts — the moon is peeping behind the trees, and the B 2 FRUITS OF ENTERPRIZE. smoke is rising from the chimnies of my carter's cottage — but my poor cart has no wheels be- cause I cannot draw spokes — and now, is that tiresome pyramid done, dear Laura?*' " If you knew all that renders those pyramids so interesting to Laura, my love," said Bernard's mother, " you would not be in such great haste to see them finished ; indeed I believe you would willingly give up the pleasure of seeing your own little picture completed, to watch your sister draw her's." "Indeed, mamma! "exclaimed the lively boy, — eC where are they, and why do you think that the account of them will amuse me so much ?" " My story is a long one," replied his mother, " so I will not begin it till after tea, and then we can go on without interruption." " Oh, mother ! that will be delightful ! quite delightful ! for we can have a settled evening ; and as to my cart, Laura may put in the spokes to-morrow — the wheels will not signify for one night, will they, mamma?'' exclaimed Bernard, and, without waiting for an answer, he jumped up, fetched his little straw-hat from its hook in the hall, and ran across the lawn, to tell Owen and Emily, who were busily engaged training a white clematis round one of the pillars of the FRUITS OF ENTERPRIZE. 6 alcove. They quickly returned together. Tea was dispatched, and the cheerful group repaired to the library. The maps were laid open on the library table. Laura seated herself between her two brothers, and Emily, whose blue eyes spar- kled with joy, placed herself by the side of her mother. " And now, why did you think that Laura's picture would please me so much, mamma ?" said Bernard ; " where are those pyramids ?" " Think for a moment, my dear. Do you not know the name of the country so renowned for these famous mementos of ancient art ? — you have often been told." Bernard paused — " In Egypt, mamma, —in Egypt, an ancient kingdom of Africa." " Can you give me any account of Egypt — do you know any thing respecting that country }" Bernard paused again, but Emily looked up wishfully and said, ie May I tell you what I know, mamma ?" Her mother nodded assent. " Egypt," said Emily, " consists of a narrow vale on both sides of the Nile, bounded by ridges of mountains or hills. Nubia is on the south ; on the west it joins the great sandy deserts ; on the north it is washed by the Mediterranean ; b 2 * FRUITS OF ENTERPRIZE» and on the east by the Red Sea, except where it is joined to Asia by the narrow neck of land cal- led the Isthmus of Suez." "I recollect more about Egypt, now that Emily mentions the Nile," exclaimed her little brother ; " I have often heard of the rushes that grew on the banks of that river — the people used to make their paper of them, and write all their books upon it — all that they wrote; — they placed the thin leaves of the stem one over the other, then flattened them, and platted them as Fanny plats her little paper mats ; so that one leaf lay one way and another another way, and then they were stuck together with the muddy water of the Nile, and the leaves were dried and pressed with heavy weights — and rubbed and pressed again a great many times." " And," said Owen, " papa has often told us that in Egypt there is very little rain, and that the Nile at certain perioolt overflows its banks, and carries with its waters a rich mud, which ren- ders the soil fruitful, without that labour which the farmers in England are obliged to bestow,, before the fields are fit to receive the grain. In Egypt, they have only to put the seeds into the ground." i( But if the Nile should not overflow, just FRUITS OF ENTERPRIZE. O when they expected it," said Bernard, " what would they do then?" a This sometimes happens," said Laura, " but you will hear by and bye of the means which have been taken to prevent the famine which is gene- rally occasioned by such a calamity, and of the mode which is used to supply the deficiency, if the river do not afford its usual assistance." " Well, mamma," said Owen, u now that we know where Egypt is — now for the pyramids : — whereabouts are they, and for what purpose were they erected ?" " Not so fast, my love. Let us proceed gra- dually. I have not yet told you that Egypt is di- vided into Upper, Middle, and Lower ; and that it is a country renowned in history, having been once the seat, if not the parent of the sciences. It is not only remarkable for those surprising monuments of antiquity, the famous pyramids, which baffle the researches of the deepest anti- quary to fix upon their origin, but also for many other i( glorious structures," astonishing re- mains of ancient temples, pompous palaces, obe- lisks, columns, statues, and paintings. Thus is Egypt rendered so interesting ; and it is at the present time peculiarly so to us, because a gen- tleman has lately, with indefatigable zeal, made b 3 FRUITS OF ENTERPRIZE. many researches in that country, and his curious discoveries among the pyramids and temples have excited the public attention in no small de- gree. He has spent many years in this arduous employment, and is now amply compensated in knowing that they have not been spent in vain/' ci Oh, mamma !" exclaimed Emily, " tell me the name of this gentleman : — why did he go there ? Was he fond of antiquities ? How did he manage to enter the pyramids ? and what did he iind in them ?." " I cannot give a reply to so many questions in a breath, my little girl ; however I will an- swer one of them : — the name of the gentleman 1 mentioned is Belzoni." " A native of England, mamma?" u No : a native of Padua." ic Padua, an ancient, large, and celebrated city of Italy," said Laura, as she pointed to the map. '' Is it all true that you are going to tell us, mother ?" said Owen. " Perfectly true. The account I purpose giving you of Egypt and Nubia is taken from Belzoni's own Travels, recently published ; you may therefore rely on its correctness* FRUITS OF ENTERPJilZE. 7 u Unfortunate circmstances falling out in his native country, compelled Belzoni to leave it, and about twenty years ago he came to England. Here he married, and contrived to live on his own industry, and the knowledge he had acquired in various branches whilst at Rome, in which city he had spent many of his juvenile hours. He now turned his thoughts to hydraulics, a science to which he had before paid attention, and which in the end was the princi- pal cause of his going to Egypt/' " I must interrupt you, dear mamma," said Bernard : u will you tell me what is meant by hydraulics, and why Belzoni should go into Egypt on that account ?" u The science which has for its object the motion of fluids is called hydraulics, and its principal object is to furnish us with the means of conducting water from one situation to another by canals or other means. Belzoni imagined that a hydraulic machine would be of great use in Egypt to irrigate the fields, which want water only to make them produce at any time of the year." cc Then the soil is fertile, and the climate warm, I suppose, mamma?" said Owen. Yes i the soil of Egypt is particularly noted a 8 FRUITS OF ENTERPRIZE. for the fertility occasioned by its wonderful river ; and, while thinking of this, we are led to ob- serve the two beautiful prospects which, owing to it, Egypt exhibits at two seasons of the year. During our summer the climate there is exces- sively warm, and it is impossible to describe a scene more delightful than that which the coun- try presents at the first overflowing of the Nile ; the spectator beholds a spacious sea, spotted with innumerable towns and villages, sometimes contrasted with groves of palm-trees, while a magnificent display of sylvan and mountainous scenery bounds the extensive prospect. On the contrary, if the view be taken when our gardens and fields are clothed in the robes of winter, the whole country there resembles one large meadow, covered with the finest ver- dure, and enamelled with the choicest flowers ; the plains embellished with flocks and herds 5 the air, pure and salubrious, scented with orange and lemon blossoms, which blow in luxuriance." " I should like to live in Egypt, mamma \'\ exclaimed Bernard. " But incoveniences are to be met with there, as well as every where else, my love. The heat is oppressive to all who are unused to it : in- deed, the southerly winds are sometimes so sultry FRUITS OF ENTERPRIZE. 9 as to oblige the natives to immure themselves in vaults or caves ; and not unfrequently these winds raise such clouds of sand as to obscure the light of the sun, and, even to those who are used to them, to be almost insupportable. The people call them poisonous winds, or winds of the Desert, and, during the three days that they generally last, the streets are forsaken -5 and in a melancholy condition is the unfortunate tra- veller, whom they surprise remote from shel- ter/' " I wonder," exclaimed Emily, " whether Belzoni ever encountered them. Do you think he did, mamma?" ie I will begin my account, and then you may hear a description of the various adventures he met with." Mrs. A. then began to relate some circum- stances of Belzoni s Researches in Egypt and Nubia. ? Some years after Mr. Belzoni had re- sided in England, he formed the resolution of going to the south of Europe; and, taking Mrs. Belzoni with him, he visited Portugal and Spain, and afterwards the small but important isle of Malta, which lies to the south of Sicily, and is celebrated for its fine port and for the strength 10 FRUITS OF ENTERPRIZE. of its fortifications, now belonging to Great Britain. Hence they embarked for Egypt, and arrived in safety at Alexandria." Emily. — Here is Alexandria, mamma, on the sea-coast : I have found it marked on the map. Mrs. A. — On entering the harbour of this city, Belzoni was informed that the plague was there. To an European, who had never been in that country, this was alarming intelligence. Happily, however, it nearly ceased in a short time ; and as his principal view was to go on to Cairo, he hired a boat, and they embarked with an English gentleman, who was going up the Nile. Bernard. — Here is Cairo, the capital of Egypt, mamma : to the south of Alexandria. Mrs. A. — This city is one hundred miles from the mouth of the Nile. Owing to contrary winds, it was some days before our travellers landed at Boolac, within a mile of it. At this place a bustling scene presented itself, and the majestic appearance of Turkish soldiers in various cos- tumes, Arabs, of many tribes, boats, camels, horses, and asses, all in motion, formed a strik- ing picture. Immediately after landing, they went to Cairo ; but, as the holy fathers of the convent of Terrasanta could not receive women hVi •! soul's Tsmvels Facie jo. Tavf ZS. fH/'/u-Aj-rt M>r. r /?/fi/:-/. ?>u jfarr/j- .'■ J'< ■/, r,-r;„- ■ , . .<:'/'„„/.,: FRUITS OF ENTERPRIZE. 11 within their walls, they were accommodated in an old house at Boolac, belonging to a gentle- man, the interpreter of Mahomed Ali, and direc- tor of all foreign affairs. He was a man of great acuteness of understanding, and well disposed towards strangers. Bernard. — Who is Mahomed Ali, mamma ? Mrs. A. — The Turkish Viceroy, or Bashaw, by whom Egypt is governed. Owen. — I am glad that this interpreter was agreeably disposed towards strangers, as I sup- pose that Belzoni had to apply through his means to the Bashaw respecting his hydraulic machine, for which purpose he went to Egypt, you know. Mrs. A. — Travellers are frequently obliged to submit to inconvenience, and so were ours. The house they inhabited was so old and out of re- pair, that it appeared every moment as though ready to fell on their heads : all the windows were shut up with broken w T ooden rails ; the staircase was in so bad a condition, that scarcely a step was left entire ; the door was merely fastened by a pole placed against it, having neither lock nor any thing else to secure the entrance. There were many rooms in the house, but the ceilinj in all of them was in a most 12 FRUITS OF ENTERPRIZE. threatening state. The whole furniture con- sisted of a single mat, in one of the best rooms, which they considered as the drawing 1 room. Bernard (laughing). — Oh! what a curious drawing-room ! supposing ours had only a mat in it ! But go on, dear mamma. Mrs. A. — No chairs are to be had in this coun- try ; so they sat on the ground, and a box and a trunk served as a table. Fortunately, they had a few plates, as well as knives and forks ; and James, an Irish lad, whom they took with them, procured a set of culinary articles. Such were the accommodations our enter- prizing travellers met with at Boolac ! Although Belzoni's chief object was not to see antiquities at that time, yet he felt desirous of visiting the famous pyramids. Emily. — That was right, as he was so near them. I think I have heard you say, that they are at the foot of those mountains which sepa- rate Europe from Libya. Mrs. A. — The English gentleman who accom- panied Belzoni up the Nile obtained an escort of soldiers from the Bashaw, and went with him to the pyramids one evening, intending to as- cend one of them the following morning to see the sun rise. Accordingly, they were on the top FRUITS OF ENTERPRIZE. 13 long before the dawn of day. , The scene they beheld delighted them, being grand and majes- tic beyond description. A mist over the wide sandy plains formed a veil which vanished gra- dually as the sun rose, and at length opened to their view that beautiful land, once the site of Memphis. The distant view of the smaller py- ramids, on the south, marked the extension of that vast capital ; while the solemn spectacle of the immense sandy desert on the west, stretch- ing as far as the eye could reach, inspired sub- lime feelings. The fertile land on the north, with the winding course of the Nile descending to- wards the sea ; the rich appearance of Cairo and its glittering minarets; the beautiful plain, which extends from the pyramids to that city ; the thick groves of palm-trees in the midst of the fertile valley, altogether formed a scene Bel- zoni was well calculated to enjoy. Bernard. — Mamma, I do not understand how Belzoni mounted the Pyramid. Mrs. A. — There are steps on the outside, and by them he ascended it. Having gratified his admiration, he went with his friend round the next pyramid, examined several of the mausoleums, and returned to Cairo, highly delighted with having seen a won- c J 4 FRUITS OF ENTERPRIZE. der they had long desired, but never supposed they should have the pleasure of beholding*. A few days after this time, a party was formed to go to Sacara by water. After visiting the pyramids at that place, they returned to Cairo, except Mr. Turner, the English gentleman, and Belzoni, who went on to Dajior, and examined the remains of many other pyramids there. When they came back to the Nile, it was quite night, and they had to pass several villages be- fore they reached a place where they could embark for Cairo. Their road laid through a cluster of palm-trees, which, as the moon was just rising, had a solemn effect. Some of the Arabs were dancing to the usual tunes of their tambourines, and, forgetting their masters, the Turks, were happy for a time. At length, Bel- zoni and his friend took a small boat, and arrived in Cairo before morning. Two days after this time, the former was to be presented to the Bashaw on the subject of his hydraulic project. Emily. — I hope the Bashaw w T as pleased with it, after Belzoni had taken so much pains to promote the comfort of his people. Mrs. A. — But poor Belzoni met with an un- fortunate accident, which detained him for some time. He received a violent blow on the leg, FRUITS OF ENTERPRIZE. 15 from a soldier who was passing on horseback, and was obliged to be taken to the convent of Terrasanta. Bernard. — It must have been very desolate to be laid up at such a place ; and yet the con- vent was, perhaps, more comfortable than that shabby old house at Boolac. Did he soon re- cover, mamma ? I think that cruel soldier had never heard your favourite sentence, "Do. as you would be done by." Mrs. A. — The common feelings of humanity were strangers to his bosom. Belzoni, however, was well enough in a few days to be presented to the Bashaw. Owen. — I do not like to interrupt you, mam- ma; but is the Bashaw in the place of a king? What sort of government is it in Egypt ? Mrs. A. — The form of government in Egypt is called an aristocracy. Owen. — What is an aristocracy, mamma ? I know that despotism implies the will of the monarch to be the law, and that a limited mo- narchy, as in England, indicates that the king has only a part of the supreme power in com- mon with some of his subjects ; but I do not understand what you mean by an aristocracy. Mrs. A. — An aristocracy is a republican state, c 2 16 FRUITS OF ENTERPRIZE. wherein the supreme power is consigned to nobles and peers. Since Egypt has been under the dominion of the Turks, it has been governed by a Bashaw, who resides at Cairo, and who has under him inferior governors in several parts of the country. Emily. — I observed, mamma, when you were talking of the Arabs enjoying the moonlight under the palm-trees, and playing upon their tambourines, that you said they were forgetting their masters, the Turks. What have Turks to do in Egypt ? Mrs. A. — The inhabitants of Egypt are com- posed of different races of people. The Turks, who think themselves entitled to be masters of the country, because the Arabs (who are another race) were conquered by them : then there are the Copts, who are descended from the lirst Egyptians \ as well as many others, under dif- ferent denominations. And now, having wandered from our subject, we will pursue it. Bernard. — Oh, mamma! I want to hear some of Belzoni's adventures and escapes ! Mrs. A.— Adventures are delightful things, provided an escape follows. But you must have patience, my boy. FRUITS OF ENTERPRIZE. 17 Belzoni made an arrangement with the Ba- shaw, and undertook to erect a machine which would raise as much water with one ox as the machines of the country with four. Bernard. — Useful Belzoni ! Success to your project ! Owen. — How did Mahomed Ali like % mam- ma ? I expected that he was of too indolent a disposition to admire any thing new : he was a Turk; you know, and the Turks are famed for their indolence. Mrs. A. — You are right, my love, in supposing that a person of an enervated turn of mind can- not derive so much pleasure from a new project as one of a more active disposition. Ali, how- ever, received our Belzoni very civilly, and was much pleased with his proposition. Owen. — And well he might he, when he could foresee that, if put in execution, it would spare the expense and labour of many thousands of oxen. Mrs. A. — Belzoni now commenced his hy- draulic machine. It was to be erected in Sou- bra, at the garden of the Bashaw, on the Nile, three miles from Cairo. He had many difficul- ties to encounter, Bernard ; for the very persons who were necessary to furnish him with wood, c 3 t8 FRUITS OF ENTERPR1ZE. iron, carpentry, and so on, unfortunately re- collected that they should be the first to suffer by it, if the machine succeeded. However success is secure unless energy fails, and Belzoni in time saw his water machine completed. But as he was some time at Soubra, perhaps you may like to hear how he passed the intervals, when unoccupied by his work. Bernard. — Yes, dear mamma — I like him very much ! What a clever man he was ! Mrs. A. — You see, my dear little boy, that a great deal depends upon the turn which is given to our early pursuits. Thp science of hydraulics first became familiar to Belzoni when he was a boy in Rome. Bernard.— I dare say he did not then think of going to Egypt. How, mamma ? Mrs. A. — During his stay at Soubra, Belzoni became acquainted with many Turks, and par- ticularly with the governor of the palace, as his house was within his walls. The garden of the Bashaw was under his care, and a guard was kept at the gates. The seraglio is so si- tuated that it overlooks the Nile ; at the back of it is a beautiful garden under the care of the Greeks, and kept in excellent order. It is or- namented with green bowers overhung with FRUITS OF ENTERPRIZE. 19 flowering shrubs, and alcoves in the form of little cupulas, around which the fragrant plants twine their numerous tendrils, whilst water machines, constantly at work, keep up a per- petual verdure. Bernard. — What a delightful place, mamma! But then Belzoni's were not the first water machines. Mrs. A. — Not actually the first, my dear, but the largest, the best calculated to answer any important purpose. You, Emily, who are so fond of flowers, will perhaps smile at the amusements which delight the Bashaw far more highly than watching the progress of his shrubs and plants. In the evening, when the sun is declining in the west, he quits his seraglio, and seats himself on the banks of the Nile, with his guards, to fire at an eathern pot on the opposite side. / * -«— - * -y.,-_rr~) n*W Emily. — To fire at an earthen pot, when in such a place ! Ah, mamma ! c *Mahomed Ali is no botanist ! K -fj\ Vt ^^< : r v~ FRUITS OF ENTERPRIZE. 21 r papa's study, when you held a little chain, and I held your hand, and Owen mine, and we all jumped together; — I hope this electrical ma- chine will make Mahomed Ali jump ! Mrs. A. — One of them was broken by the way ; the other was dismounted. No one could be found who knew how to set it up. Belzoni happened to be at the garden one night when they were attempting it, and he was requested to put the pieces together ; having done so, he desired one of the soldiers to mount the insu- lating stool, when charging the machine, he gave the Turk a good shock, who being thus struck unawares, uttered a loud cry and jumped off extremely terrified. The Bashaw laughed at the man for doing so, supposing his alarm was a pretence and not the effect of the machine; and when told that it was actually occasioned by the machine, he positively affirmed that it could not be, for the soldier was at such a dis- tance that it was impossible the small chain he held in his hand could have such power. Owen. — And how did Belzoni maifage to con- vince Ali, mamma ? Mrs. A. — He desired the interpreter to inform his Highness that if he would have the goodness to mount the stool, he would be convinced of § FRUITS CF ENTERPRIZE. the fact. He hesitated for a moment whether to belive it or not ; however he mounted the stool. Belzoni charged well, put the little chain into his hand, and gave him a smart shock. He jumped off, like the soldier, on feeling the effect of the electricity, and threw himself on the sofa, laughing immoderately, and unable to conceive how the machine could have such power on the human body. Bernard. — How very droll Mahomed Ali must have looked when he was standing upon that little stool, and especially when he found himself forced to jump off! I like your story much, very much, mother, and I do so because it is true. Mrs. A. — The Arabs of Soubra display as much festivity when a marriage of consequence takes place, as those of any of the villages in Egypt. One happened while Belzoni was there, and as the windows of his house overlooked the spot where it was performed, he had an opportunity of witnessing tbje ceremony. Early in the morn- ing of the grand holiday, a high pole was reared in the centre of the place with a banner belong- ing to the village " A banner !" whispered Bernard. 66 A streamer or flag," said Laura, and Mrs. A. FRUITS OF EXTERPRIZE. 23 r continued : A large assembly of people gathered under it, and preparations were made for an illumination with glass lamps ; music was pre- pared, &c.«- Emilv\ — Then I suppose the Arabs from other villages came to the feast also, beating their tambourines and w T aving their flags. Mrs. A. — You are right 5 but they remained at some distance from the pole until invited to advance. Emily. — I fancy, mamma, that the pole was like that round which the village girls fasten their garlands on May-day. Mrs. A. — Very probably. The old people seated themselves around and under the pole, and the strangers were placed at a little distance. One of them began to sing, while the rest divided themselves into two parties, forming two circles, one within the other round the^ole, and facing each other. Bernard. — I understand, mamma. I suppose each man put his arms over his neighbour's shoulders, and thus formed a chain. Mrs. A. — Exactly so. The outer circle stood still, while the people of the inner circle kept dancing and bowing in an orderly manner to those on the outer. Thus they continued three 24 FRUITS OF ENTERPRIZE. hours, and those who were not in the circles made separate rings by themselves. Emily. — So this is the mode of dancing among the Arabs, mamma. How different to ours ! But where were the ladies in the mean time? Mrs. A. — All the women were at a distance by themselves, and among them was the bride. When the dancing and singing ended, they all sat down, and a great quantity of boiled rice was brought to them in wooden bowls, as well as some dishes of melokie and bamies, and three or four sheep roasted, which were soon torn to pieces and devoured. Bernard. — Melokie and hamies, mamma ! What are they ? Mrs. A. — Plants eaten in common by the Arabs as greens. A number of boys were fully employed during the whole ceremony in fetch- ing water from the Nile. At night the little coloured lamps were lighted, a band of tambou- rines played continually, and the entertainment ended as it had commenced, with a dance. Emily. — I am sure, mamma, that I do not envy those dancing Arabs. And now, let us turn to Belzoni. How long was it before his machine was finished, ready, however, for the Bashaw to see it ? TRL'ITS OF ENTERPRIZE. 25 Mrs. A. — Belzoni completed his undertaking in time. It was constructed on the principle of a crane with a walking wheel, in which a single ox, by its own weight alone, could effect as much as four oxen employed in the machines of the country. Owen.— Then Belzoni managed his machine in spite of the difficulties he had to encounter with the self-interested workmen. Mrs. A. — Yes: he was of too enterprising a disposition to give up a work which was the chief cause of his going into that country. Bernard .^Before you go on, mamma, will you tell me/^what you mean by a crane ? — there is a p|c4ure/of**a crane in my Bewick — but I can- not at all make out what is meant by a crane with a ivalking wheel. i v \ Owen. — The crane of which mamma speaks, jrw Bernard, is not a bird — but a machine used in building, for raising and lowering huge stones, heavy weights, and sometimes water, you see. Mrs. A. — It is a technical term in mechanics, my love, and I will try by and bye to explain to you what is meant by a crane with a walking wheel. The Bashaw came to Soubra to examine the hydraulic machine. It was set to work and 1k ■ 26 FRUITS OF ENTERPRIZE. succeeded admirably, drawing in the same space of time six or seven times as much water as the common machines. Bernard. — Ah ! Belzoni is well repaid, mam- ma. And the Egyptian farmers may sow their seed without being afraid of a famine — even if the Nile do not overflow they can Taise water, and water their fields so nicely. Useful Belzoni ! Mrs. A. — Our best endeavours, though they sometimes appear at first to be crowned with success, may afterwards defeat the purpose for which they were intended. So it was with those of our ingenious friend. The Bashaw took it into his head to have the oxen taken out of the wheel, in order to see, by way of frolic, what effect the machine would have by putting fifteen men into it. Poor James, the Irish lad you know, entered along with them, but no sooner had the wheel turned once round than they all jumped out, leaving the boy alone in it. The wheel of course, overbalanced by the weight of the water, turned back with such velocity that the catch was unable to stop it. James was thrown out, and in the fall broke one of his thighs. Belzoni contrived to stop the wheel before it did farther injury, which might have been fatal to him. EMsXOTb 'Vr;ivi