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

SYRIA, EGYPT, GERMANY, &C. 1 83
en nuith the French. Fort Shouikouski and the pyramid* of GLza surrendered.
Convention agreed upon. Heliopolis. Clouds of dust. British troops take
possession of Cairo. Descriptiom of Cairo. Citadel. Grand aqueducl.
Baths. The Mekias, or Ni IOmeter.
WHEN
I interrupted my narrative to enter on the
preceding
digressions, I stated, that the steps preparatory to the march,
of the Turkish army had been taken on the 24th of February.
At in
eight
the morning of the 25th this event was announced by
the sound of the trumpet, the
signal
to strike tents j and at half
past eleven three guns having been fired in the front of the Vizier's
tent as a of
signal departure, the whole of the Ottoman troops
who composed his Highness's army, with the exception of those
who had been sent of] on the preceding days, were put in motion.
Their effective force might, on a near calculation, amount to about
twelve thousand men, consisting of Topgis, or cannoniers, janis-
saries, Arnauts, Mamelukes, Dehlis, Asiatics, Tartars, Mogr.a*
bians, Avarees, and Bedouin Arabs. His Britannic Majesty's
military mission marched with the Grand Vizier, Reis Effendi, and
other state officers. This movement, which was to be considered
as the commencement of the active operations of our Ottoman
friends and allies, presented a scene truly novel and interesting.
Previously to the departure of the troops, the Grand Vizier sent
forward a Pacha with one of his tails, which was planted on the
spot destined for his Highness's own particular encampment, and
that of the state officers. Within the compass of this spot the
ground of encampment for the British military mission was invariably
to be included.
We reached the new ground of encampment at a little before
three in the afternoon. It was situated near the village of Yebna.
and about twelve miles distant from Jaffa, in a fine open plain sur-
rounded by hills, and covered with herbage which was highly ac-
ceptable to the half famished cattle. A rivulet formed by the late
rains supplied us with excellent water.
The Vizier's tent was known exteriorly by two gilt balls placed
on the extremities of the tent poles; and near to it was displayed a
large white flag, having on it an inscription in Arabic characters.
The troops pitched their tents promiscuously, round those of their
respective Pachas or chiefs, whose posts in the encampment had
been marked out by the Pacha sent forwards with the Vizier's tail.
The duties of this officer are very similar to those of our quarter-