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

126 TRAVELS IN ASIATIC TURKEY,
tired of the warfare in Egypt) to surrender to the British forces ;
and expressed the extreme reluctance they would feel at being obli-
ged to surrender separately
to the Turks.
I rode on the morning of the 20th to Ileliub, situated at the dis-
tance of two miles and a half to the north of the camp. The inhabitants
were busied in preparing the indigo plant for use. To
this end the plants were cut into small portions, and thrown into
warm water, in which having lain simmering for a short time, they
were, together with the liquor, thrown into earthen jars. In this
state the liquor verv soon acquires a blue colour.
On the morning of the 21st the British army under the command
of General Hutchinson, together with the troops commanded
by the Capstan Pacha, and the Mamelukes, marched, and took up
a position before Giza ; at the same time that the British troops
under. Colonel Stewart marched with the Vizier's army, and en-
camped between Shubra and Cairo. The latter took up a position,
with their right extending to the river, and their left towards the
desert, a small canal being in the front. Taher Pacha, with a
corps of dismounted Arnauts, posted himself at Jzaoui ; and se-
veral pickets were advanced. By these movements Cairo and Giza
were in a great degree invested. At this time the Ottoman army,
under the command of his Highness the Vizier, amounted to about
twelve thousand cavalry, seven thousand infantry, and about one
thousand artillery, with a large battering train, and forty pieces of
light artillery.
The enemy having on the 23d sent out a flag of truce to the
commanders in chief, requiring the presence of a British officer of
rank, General Hope was appointed to that service, and an armis-
tice agreed on for forty-eight hours.
Early in the morning of the 24th, a
flag of truce was sent
into Cairo the
by
British commander in chief and the Grand Vizier.
Major Birch and the Jebedgi Bashi were the bearers of
this
flag.
General Beliard, on the 25th, sent into camp three Turks who
had been found under the walls of Cairo,, observing, that it was
owing to the high respect he entertained for the Grand Vizier that
he had delivered them up, instead of treating them as spies. They
were ordered by the Vizier to be put to death immediately.
The effects of climate and fatigue began now to manifest themselves
among the British troops, many of whom were attacked bv
fever, dysentery, diarrhoea, and cphthalmy.