Travels in Turkey, Asia Minor, Syria, and across the desert into Egypt ...

104
TRAVELS IN ASIATIC TURKEY,
neglect to provide
themselves with the luxuries which their domes-
tic habits have in a manner rendered indispensable. In a Situation
like the above, the fitting up of a warm bath, with ail the requisites
and conveniencies which the Turks require, must have been
an undertaking of no easv accomplishment.
About this time several of our people were affected with an in-
flammatory cutaneous eruption, which spread
face of the body and limbs, and produced a
very unpleasant sensa-
itself over the sur-
tion of
smarting
and It
itching. proved to be the
prickly heat, by
which strangers
are
usually
attacked on their coming into a warm
climate ;
and mav perhaps be ascribed to the check given to the per-
spiration, which is very profuse during the intense heat of the dav,
by the cool air of the mornings and evenings. Vohxey makes mention
of an eruption peculiar
to Egypt, in the months of June and
July, which seems to correspond with the above-mentioned complaint,
and which he ascribes to a separation of vicious humours.
On the 13th I paid a visit to Osman Bey, one of the Mameluke
chiefs, who was indisposed; and also at his request, to one of the
cachefs. I took the precaution to be accompanied by an nterpre-
ter. Osman Bey, who was advanced in years, his age bordering
on sixty-five, appeared not to be ill informed, and was very inquisitive
relative to the manufactures and commerce of Great Britain.
We had much conversation together on a variety of topics.
During the day time the wind blew from the south-west, from
sun rise to sun set, when the land breeze came on, and prevailed
during the night throughout the whole extent of coast. This local
wind extends two or three
leagues only at sea, on this account
that the air, rarefied by the heat of the day, and afterwards conden-
sed by the cold of the night, rushes alternately from the land to the
sea, and from the sea to the land.
This evening Captain Lacy arrived at the encampment from Con-
stantinople, having executed the orders entrusted to him by Lord
Elgin, in carrying dispatches to the Vizier, &c.
For a considerable time there was an utter stagnation of events
in the Turkish camp; but on the 26th it was very currently reported
that the French had reached Caiich in great force. In conse-
quence of these rumours, the erection of several new works having
been suggested to the Grand Vizier, they were immediately com-
menced, under the direction of Lieutenanr-colonel Ilolloicay.
the concise description 1 have given of Jaffa, I have already ob-
served that, as it was deemed the most convenient sea-port
In
on the