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

SYRIA, EGYPT, GERMANY, &C. 197
but hardier, and capable of enduring great fatigues. Sixty of these
animals were attached to the British mission, and, in consequence
of a dispute which had arisen between one of our people and an
Albanian, it was settled that the Arab drivers should take charge
of the baggage.
In the evening despatches from Sir Ralph Abercrombie and Ad-
miral Lord Keith were brought to the Vizier.
On the 28th, at ten in the morning, the army began its march,
the baggage having been sent off at a very early hour.
Previously
to our quitting the ground, further despatches were received from
Sir Ralph Abercrombie and Admiral Lord Keith, the contents of
which the Vizier read and communicated at our first halt. We
Were then six miles distant from (raza, and had been obliged to
cross a river, formed by the late very abundant falls of rain, the
waters of which were so high, and the current so strong and im-
petuous, that the passage was effected by the army with great diffi-
culty, several of the camels, with the baggage, tents, &c. having
had a very narrow escape from destruction. The despatches con-
tained the glorious news of the success of the British troops in
Egypt since their landing, detailing the capture of Aboukir, as
well as of the three actions which had terminated so favourably to
the British arms, and in which the French had lost four thousand
men, comprehending
that of three of their Generals. On our
reaching, at five in the afternoon, our new gtound of encampment
at Kahnyouncs, the Vizier fired a royal salute of twenty-one guns,
to celebrate the above events ; and in the evening, at sun-set, we
heard distinctly a discharge of eleven guns, which appeared also to
have been fired as a salute by the advanced troops.
Our day's march had been extremely pleasant; and we now occupied
a dry and elevated ground, supplying us with excellent water.
Kahnyounes is a small village, situated in a plain on the bor-
der of the desert. From the rising ground on which the mission
was encamped to the eastward, it exhibited a very pleasing appear-
ance, containing not only a handsome mosque, but a ruinous castle,
which added greatly to the picturesque effect. The Turks had
taken up their position close to the village, the inhabitants of which
are exclusively Arabs. The fine plains through which wc had
passed this day, on our route thither, afforded excellent pasturage
for cattle, and contained a greater proportion of grasses and clover
than I had seen in any other part of the country.