AND LOWER EGYPT. 73 



vain ; and perceiving that he grew displeased, I 

 allowed myself to be conducted into the mosque, 

 and on my return I assured him that the report 

 spread concerning the pretended treasures, said to 

 be concealed there, was an imposture, and that 

 not an atom existed in it. 



I profited by this opportunity to reproach tlie 

 Kiaschef (ov having endeavoured to deprive me of 

 my Syrian interpreter. With the intention of 

 having an explanation on this subject, I had taken 

 with me a young Alexandrian servant, who, 

 understanding the lingua Francay could, though 

 with some difficulty, serve me as an interpreter. 

 Daoud appeared to be very much surprised : he 

 sent for the Syrian, who had not the assurance to 

 maintain in the presence of the Kiaschef^ what he 

 had accused him of to me with the utmost degree 

 of perfidy. Indeed he had the audacity to assure 

 me that Daoud wished him to enter into his service, 

 and that he had received from him, even in writing, 

 the most flattering promises. But he was obliged 

 to acknowledge his imposture, and the irritated 

 Kiaschef was going to order the bastinado to be 

 applied to the soles of liis feet, if I had not en- 

 treated a pardon for him, which I had some 

 difficulty to obtain, and only upon condition, that 

 if the same man gave me any new cause of dis- 

 pleasure. 



