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

282 TRAVELS IN ASIATIC TURKEY,
CHAPTER XVII.
Plague breaks out in the buildings occupied by the British mission. Departure
cf the janissaries. Departure of the Vizier. Excursion up
the Nile.
Site of the ancient city of Memphis. Remains of the Mekias. Departure
from Cairo. Observations on the rise andfall of the Nile.
THE Biram commenced on the 3d of February at sun-set,
and was announced by a salute from the citadel, together
with
discharges
of musketry in the different
quarters of the town.
On this day we had an unfortunate accident. The Choarbagi,
an officer of janissaries, whose case I have described in the Medi-
cal Journal, died of the plague within the buildings occupied by
the British mission. The account of his death, and the circum-
stances by which it was accompanied, were transmitted to the Bri-
tish commander in chief, previously to the departure of the mission
for Alexandria.
On the morning of the 4th,- at sun-rise, the guns of the cita-
del, and of the different forts in the vicinity of Cairo, were dis-
charged, to celebrate the Biram, during the continuance of which,
three discharges of artillery and musketry are made daily, in the
morning, at noon, and at sun-set. In the course of the three davs
which are thus dedicated to festivities of every description, as a
relaxation from the severe penalties of the Ramazan, the Arabs
and Turks engaged in servile capacities go from house to house to
solicit backshish, or money,
of their
employers.
Colonel Holloway and Major Hope left Cairo for Alexandria
on the 6th. On account of the recent death of the officer of ja-
nissaiies, who fell a victim to plague, the detachments were to remain
at Cairo until further orders. I learned with much satisfac-
tion that the janissaries who were in the chamber of the deceased
were all well.
The janissary Aga, with the janissaries under his command,
Vizier was
quitted Cairo at this time for Constantinople . The
to take the field on the 9th; and was to quit his encampment
near Cairo in the space of fifteen or twenty days. The Turks
Still continued to send supplies of troops, stores, and ammunition.