Proceedings in Egypt unci Nnbht. 51 



there. Our joy at re-meeting was mutual and extreme. Dinner 

 was immediately served, and all proved, by the elevation of 

 their spirits, as well as by the cheerfulness which supported our 

 conversation until past midnight, how much we rejoiced at his 

 return. 



Jedda, Sunday, December 4. 



As if to rescue time even from sleep, and seize the moments 

 we were yet to be together, before they should have flown unen- 

 joyed, we had each risen earlier than usual this morning. The 

 pipe and coffee, now difficult to be dispensed with, welcomed 

 Ibrahim from his slumbers, and as our morning walk was re- 

 tarded by the washing of the decks, we were entertained at in- 

 tervals with anecdotes of Syrian manners both among the Arabs 

 and the Franks, collected during his stay at the two principal 

 cities, Aleppo and Damascus ; — which, being as characteristic 

 as they were new and entertaining, afforded us a very high gra- 

 tification. 



After breakfast, the Captain's hookah was lighted, Ibrahim's 

 pipe renewed, and each preserved their seats with all the 

 gravity, and, on our parts, the expectation, too, which marks 

 the auditors of a public assembly when some interesting discussion 

 is about to take place, or some fine oration about to be delivered. 

 Nor was the expectation defeated, while we listened to an account 

 of his journey from Mecca to Taif, his interview with the Pasha 

 there, Sfc. 



The distance between these two cities is about fifty miles, 

 and forms a three days' journey on asses and camels ; the whole 

 of the road is over a mountainous and barren country, although 

 there are scattered villages lying in the way, but the inhabitants, 

 from the desert and infertile state of the grounds they occupy, 

 are merely shepherds, and in a still worse condition than the 

 villagers of Egypt. The city or town of Taif is situated on an 

 eminence, the base of which is clothed with some verdure, 

 among which are even gardens that produce good supplies of ve- 

 getables and fruit for the inhabitants, who are in general Arabs, 

 living by the little trade which exists among themselves. 



On his arrival at Taif, Ibrahim addressed himself to Sig- 

 E 2 



