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

SYRIA, EGYPT, GERMANY, &C. 211
tttander in chief, as well as the Capitan Pacha, to the end that the
ulterior arrangements might be made.
Intelligence was received on the 20th that a body of six hundred
of the enemy, with five hundred and fifty camels, had been cap-
tured by the British army on the route leading from Alexandria to
Rahmanieh.
At Bcn-el-Hazer there were several vessels on the river of a peculiar
construction, of which I shall have occasion to speak more
particularly hereafter. The Delta, from the distant view I had of
it, appeared to be a vast plain yielding
an abundance of corn and
other productions, and interspersed with numerous villages built on
eminences surrounded by date trees. On the banks of the Nile
the Arab inhabitants cultivate water melons, gourds, tobacco, in-
digo, which in the Arabic is called nileh, and some few fruits, and
other vegetables.
The Vizier was at this time indisposed with fever, and required
my constant attendance as did also ;
Mahomed Pacha.
Major Wilson arrived in the camp with despatches
on the
21st ; and set out on the following morning early, with despatches
for the British commander in chief. In the course of the morning
of the latter
day, Colonel Stewart, of the y?th regiment, Captain
and three other British of-
Diggens, of the 1 1th light dragoons,
ficers, with a party of light cavalry, came into the camp to pay
their compliments to his Highness the Vizier. They had quitted
their division, which was stationed in the Delta, at the distance of
a few miles, and consisted of an advanced body of British troops,
commanded by Colonel Stewart, who was to co-operate with the
army of the Grand Vizier. General Hutchinson, and the Capitan
Pacha, were daily expected in the camp.
Lieutenant Janverin of the royal navy, was at this time sent off
with despatches for Suez.
On the morning of the 23d, an officer belonging to the British
cavalry stationed in the Delta came into the camp with letters. His
arrival was followed by that of Major Wilson. We experienced
on this day another kampsin, the heated wind blowing with great
violence from the south and south-east.
Owing to the extreme scarcity of wood, wc were at (his time
under the necessity of resorting for fuel to dried cow dung, which
we purchased of the Arab women, who form it with chopped
straw into cakes, and dry it on the sides of their dwellings.