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

SYRIA, EGYPT, GERMANY, 0£C. 203
Fremit at Da mid (a as being in such critical circumstances, that
they would rejoice at the approach of the Turkish army, to furnish
them with a pretext
for relinquishing
the place.
A salute was fifed in the camp on the occasion of the capture of
Saluhieh, an account of which was transmitted over land to the
commander in chief- of the British forces.
During the night we lost the greater part of the camels, together
with their drivers, who had fled to the mountains. This unfortu-
nate evenc was likely
to subject the army to great risks, and very
serious difficulties, since our speedy departure from El-Arish was
thus rendeicd impracticable. Detachments of
cavalry were on the
13th, sent off in their pursuit. Thus, with the above loss, the oc-
casional deprivation of provisions, the plague, and the frequent in-
testine quarrels among the Turkish soldiery, we were surrounded,
in our forlorn situation in the desert, by a train of threatening evils,
among which may be enumerated, pestilence, and famine, and bat-
tle, and murder, and sudden death.
Several vessels anchored in the road. It was reported that a part
of those which had been driven off by the late gales, had been
wrecked on the adjacent coast.
A considerable number of vessels laden with corn came to anchor
on the 14th. To enable us to pass the desert with greater ease, it
was determined to send the spare tents and heavy baggage by water
to Tineh. For this purpose eleven tents, and such of the baggage
as was not indispensably necessary to the mission, were embarked
on board a 'Turkish vessel bound to that place, together with gunner
Foster, and the whole of the civil artificers, whose services
would not be necessary
in the interim. Five tents
only were retained
for the
party. The Vizier and principal Turkish officers at-
tended on the beach, to superintend the embarkation of the
artillery
and stores destined for Tineh, as well as to prevent any confusion
which might result from the landing of the
barley.
After such an
interval of distress as had been experienced
in the carnp, it was na-
tural to presume that the troops would manifest great impatience
on the landing
of the supplies.
The camels which had been carried off by their drivers were still
missing. Two hundred, however, of these animals were brought
in on the 15th
by
a sheick, who, after having received a handsome
present, set off with his camels and people in the night ; at which
time a hedski, the property of one of the dragomen belonging to
the mission, was stolen.