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

1 86 TRAVELS IN ASIATIC TURKEY,
party of women and children at that place, recommending the
use of the oily frictions, and the other means I have already de-
scribed.
Intelligence was brought to us on the 5th, that the plague had
marie such ravages at Cairo as to have obliged the enemy to abandon
the town, and pitch their tents withoutside the walls. We
learned also, that this terrible scourge continued to
rage with great
violence at El-Arish, where a Pacha, together with several of the
Mamelukes, and Ragio, dragoman to Captain Lacey, had been,
recently attacked. In consequence of the suppuration of the pestilential
tumors, some hope of the latter was entertained.
I made a little excursion on the morning of the 7th to Yehna,
situated on a hill, about two or three miles to the south-cast of the
encampment. It is conjectured that the rock Etam, where Samson
was surprised by the Philistines, was at no remote distance from
this town.
On the 8th I rode to the summit of a lofty hill, situated to the
north-east of the camp, whence there was a very extensive and
pleasing view of Iiamla, distant in that direction about five miles;
and to the
pasturage.
south-east a fine view of the plains covered with rich
On hills
sloping
of an easy ascent, by which the plains
'were bordered, Yebna, Ekron, Ashdod, and Ascalon, all of them
places of celebrity in the records of the sacred wtitings, were in
sight. Having now reached the land of the Philistines, every
surrounding spot was the scene of
interesting recollections. Ramla,
the ancient Ramah, was the abode of Samuel ,• and the
giant Goliath,
slain dod.
by David, was of Gath, situated to the east of Ash-
In the valley of Ekron the children of Israel and the men
of Judah took up arms, and pursued the Philistines to the gates
of the city. When David was persecuted by Saul, he fled to
Gath, where, as well as with Samuel at Ramah, he found shelter
and hospitality.
Intelligence was received at this time from El-Arish, that Ismael
Pacha, the commander in chief of the encampment there,
having been attacked by a sudden fit of vomiting, had been carried
off either by plague or poison*. He was at an advanced period of
life, having attained his sixtieth vear, was brave, and not destitute
of information. He laboured under a suspicion of being disaffected
to the Turkish government, on which account he had spent a con-
siderable lime under the most alarming terrors and apprehensions;
ihstmuch that he had been known to shift his position in his tent