On the Nile.

On the morning of Wednesday, 6th. We hear people playing pool at Soliman’s. We run a small errant in a bark to the tip of Roda island - our sailors are quite surprised to see Cawadjas like us handling the oars. At 2 p.m. Joseph comes in, without the glass panels [for Maxime’s camera]. We leave. Good tailwind - gradually, the numerous boats get fewer - lunch - the cangia tilts starboard - the customs’ boat accosts us - three piasters and we go through. The weather is fine, our sailors are happy, they make music - Joseph in his kitchen, skimmer in hand, performs two or three steps. Chimy, the farcical of the lot, dances with a clay vase on his head. The wind subsides at the beginning of the night. Sunset. The pyramids of Sakkara stand, gray on the gold color extending from the horizon to the middle of the sky; on our left it’s first pink, yellow, green, at last blue; in the middle stands the yellow Nile - and in the middle of it our cangia - and Joseph in the middle of the cangia with an handkerchief tied around his tarboosh.