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

I48
TRAVELS IN ASIATIC TURKEY,
and associates by whom he was environed. It would be difficult to
conceive a situation of more imminent peril* than that in which
we were placed, and it is impossible to describe the painful sensa-
tions by which each individual was agitated.
It was sufficient that
a new case of illness, from whatever cause it might have arisen,
was announced, to fill us with the most agonizing pangs, the most
heart-rending apprehensions! — In the mean time, a vigilant and
unremitted attention was paid to whatever could stay the progress
of infection ; fumigations were, among a variety of means, em-
ployed in each of the tents, and the sick, as well as the attendants,
separated from the rest of the people. In each of the cases which
had terminated fatally,
the clothes, bedding, and, in
general,
whatever had been for the service
employed
of the deceased, were
immediately burned.
My narrative recommences on the 8th of December, when the
officers belonging
to the mission, with Colonel Murray, the deputy
quarter-master-general, whose arrival in the camp I have already
announced, had the
singular honour cf dining with the Grand
Vizier. His Highness was in uncommonly good spirits,
in con-
sequence of his having that morning received a firman from the Sultan,
accompanied, among other presents, by that of a beautiful
handjar, or dagger, the hilt of which was set with diamonds of great
brilliancy. On this particular occasion a royal salute was fired ; and
his Highness's magnificent tent spread, toreceive the firman, or let-
ter, and to display the presents.
Our dinner was entirely in the Turkish style, and of course con-
sisted of the best dishes the country could supply, prepared with the
most consummate address. The polite and friendly attentions of the
Vizier, who paid many compliments to his i??z^//.s/j guests, gave
them a still higher relish ; and we departed with the most satisfac-
tory impressions of his kind and undisguised hospitality. On our
return home, his Highness sent each of us a present of a shawl and
a piece of silk. The General received also a
gift of a snuff-box,
ornamented with diamonds.
The same party, with the exception of the General, who absent-
ed himself on account of Mrs, Kotlder's indisposition, dined on the
11th with the Kia Bey. On proceeding up the camp, to repair to
* This peril was augmented 'ov the necessity of attending, at so awful a crisis, on the
Vizier. Thirty-six cf his family and retinue had already
disease, which was fast gaining ground in his Kighness's quart
fallen victims to this fatal