18th of Safa, In the morning found that the wind had changed a little in our favor, got under way, but after sailing for about two hours the winding of the river again brought it ahead.  Put to shore and staid there till the middle of the afternoon, when the wind again hauled a little in our favor, and with some difficulty we got to windward of the shore and proceeded up the river.  The river here is about half a mile broad, and makes several turns which somewhat retarded our progress.  We observed some rocks and shoals, and on arriving at a place where the river is divided by a large rocky island, observed a boat aground, which had taken the right hand passage which was the broadest, and two others turning back to take the passage on the other side of this island.  We followed their example, and found the passage safe enough.  A little beyond the upper end of this island the river makes an acute angle to the right hand.  We proceeded onwards till sunset, when we put to shore in company with two other boats.  The country we have passed through to-day resembled that we saw yesterday, inferior to the fine territory of Succoot.

19th of Safa, Left the land an hour and a half after sunrise, with a fine breeze from the north.  Sailed for about an hour through a country where the rocky hills come down here and there close to the river banks and narrowed the usual breadth of the Nile considerably.  Observed however in this tract of country a few fine and cultivated islands.  Shortly after the river widened, the rocky hills retired at a distance, and the eye rested with pleasure on a beautiful country cultivated by the inhabitants of a continued succession of villages and castles which occupied both banks of the river.  The country resembled the province of Succoot, except that the date trees were not so numerous nor so tall and large.  Passed the ruins of a considerable fortified town situated on a high hill on the west bank.  A little beyond this place saw the ruins of a temple; four of the columns are yet standing; could not go ashore to examine it, as the wind was fair and strong, and the Rais under positive orders to proceed with all expedition.  Observed that several of the castles we had passed yesterday and to-day appeared newer and better constructed for defense than those we had seen along the Cataract.  I suspect that they were erected under the direction of the exiled Mamalukes, as this tract forms a part of the territory subject to them before the arrival of the Pasha Ismael.  Continued to advance, through a country very beautiful, the river here embosoming several large and delightful islands, capable of being made, by the hands of enlightened industry, every thing that the art of man operating upon a fine soil under a soft climate could effect.  We sailed pleasantly by these charming shores and islands till an hour and a half before sunset, when we came in view of a rapid ahead, and the wreck of a boat lost in passing it.  The Rais put to shore, and after taking on