Beyond its course in Egypt the Nile is known to extend as far as a four month journey…about the region beyond this, no one can say anything with certainty, for that land is uninhabited due to the scorching heat of the sun…but this much further I did learn by the most extensive investigation I could make, going as far as the city of Elephantine to see for myself...
-Herodotus, Book II
Scorching? A four month journey? Not likely. It only took KhairAllah and his men forty days, and it was often cold at night. Herodotus went as far upriver as Aswan, KhairAllah arrived just downstream from there, at Binban Bahri, and the two told very different stories about what they had seen. Herodotus spoke of Egyptians moving their bowels indoors, carrying burdens on their heads, and weaving the woof downward, while KhairAllah said the Kababish moved their bowels outdoors, carried burdens on camels, and, about those woofs, knew only that Nabah al-kalb wa mishit al-dabouka, The dog barked and the dabouka passed by.