We crossed a shallow prism and a feeding-basin: an ugly little gorge then led to the important Wady Sirr. The Sirr, though still far from its mouth, is at least three miles broad; and the guides speak of it as the Asl el-Balawiyyah, or "Old Home of the Baliyy." The view from its bed is varied and extensive.

I have met some men with such lordly souls that they would not condescend to acknowledge the salutations of menials; but you gain nothing by this kind of pride in India. They only conclude that you are not an asl, or born, saheb, and rejoice that at any rate you cannot take away their right to do obeisance to you. And you cannot.