30 THIRTY-nVK YEARS IN THE EAST. 



choose. He therefore remained in his own vessel, until some 

 soldiers were sent on board our ship to fetch him. The 

 visitors, who were but little acquainted with politeness, 

 set about carrying away some purses filled with crowns 

 ( dollars ), during which operation a quarrel arose among 

 them, and we saw them on the point of beginning a fight, 

 as their swords, knives, and pistols were already held forth for 

 the assault ; but happily, no blood was shed. It was the 

 patrol of Mahomed AH making the round. They took 

 our captain with them, and examined his papers, con- 

 veying him from one ship to another, which operation 

 lasted four hours. As this happened in the vicinity of 

 Cyprus, the captain made his complaint there to the 

 British consul, and, on arriving at Alexandria, he immediate- 

 ly jreceived satisfaction, as an imperative mandate was for- 

 warded, and the patrol recalled. 



At Cyprus, I called on my friend the French ex-Consul 

 of Tripoli, Mr. Reynold, where I met with a kind reception, 

 af he required my medical assistance. I had also, during 

 my short stay at Alexandria, the opportunity of curing a 

 countryman of mine, a Hungarian, who had been many 

 years afflicted with ulcers on his legs. As a testimony of 

 his gratitude, he sent oie a letter, from which I copy the 

 following lines: — 



"May this serve you as a proof of my gratitude and 

 sincerest thanks, for the complete restoration of my health; 

 with the request that you will not, when far distant, forget 

 your true and affectionate friend, 



"Attanas Keptenak." 



AUxandrta in Egypt^ 

 April I, 1823. 



At this time the plague was raging dreadfully at Alexan- 

 dria. The direction of the hospital was committed to a 

 Jewish doctor, whose name was Marpurgo. Among the 

 infected, there was an Italian, named Bellmondo, an 

 apothecary by profession, who died the day after he was 

 attacked with the plague, The people, on this occasion, 



