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

SYRIA, EGYPT, GERMANY, &C. Ill
melukes, he observed, that the season for it was just passed, since
on the 16th of August old style (the preceding day), it was gene-
rally considered that, in the districts where it had made its appear-
ance, its ravages would cease. He seemed to entertain a great par-
and shewed us an English sabre and
tiality for the English nation ;
a pair of pistols which he had purchased in London. The latter
made by liennct near the Royal Exchange.
On the 30th, his Highness the Grand Vizier went in state to lay
the first stone of the intended new bastion. He was met on the
ground by the mission ; and in the vicinity of the work, tents were
pitched for the reception of his Highness and the officers. After
having taken coffee and other refreshments, he proceeded with
great pomp to the foundations, which had been dug out. A prayer
having been repeated with much solemnity by one of the Turkish
priests, accompanied by the Vizier himself, as well as all by the of-
ficers of state and other Mussulmen present, the stone was laid,
and a small mallet covered with velvet, handed to his Highness.
With this mallet he struck the stone three times, repeating solemn-
ly a short prayer. In this ceremony he was followed by each of the
officers of state and attendants, at the same time that several sheep
were sacrificed. The stone having been sprinkled with the blood of
these animals, was covered over with a plate of copper on which an
inscription had been engraven. This ceremony being concluded,
the whole of the company returned to the tents, where the Gene-
ral, and Lieucenant-colonel Hollow ay, commanding the royal engineers,
were invested by the Grand Vizier with pclices; and Major
Fletcher with a beniche, or robe of honour. On this occasion a
vast concourse of people were assembled.
On the morning of this day the transport arrived from Larnica,
whither she had been dispatched on service. Several of the women
on board laboured under an
erysipelatous
inflammation of the
eyes,
which had attacked them suddenly, while at Larnica, without any
previous indisposition. The children also had a similar affection of
the eyes; but it had not manifested itself on any of the seamen.
A corps of Albanians, consisting of about one thousand, left the
camp on the evening of the 31st for El-Arish. The departure of
troops from the Turkish encampment was as well as their arrival,
customarily announced by the discharge
of muskets loaded with
balls, which flying
at random in every direction, endangered the
lives of all those who were within their reach. This practice of
firing with bullets, which is followed in every Turkish camp, was