And lower Egypt. 287 



along with it the most unbounded licentiousness, 

 entered Manfelont during my residence there. 

 Amid hordes of superstitious and ungoverned bar- 

 barians, a Franc ran the greatest risk possible. Vi'j 

 one of those abuses of power which civilized na- 

 tions connive at ; b}? one of those acts of tyranny, 

 too common among men in a state of war, that is 

 to say, in a state of rebellion against nature and the 

 social compact, I was displaced by a detachment of 

 Mamelucs, who took possession of my habitation. 

 Omar Aga, so my patient was called, as soon as he 

 was informed of my unpleasant situation, caused 

 my effects to be conveyed to his house, and was 

 earnest in providing me with a lodging there. 

 This Turk was really a good man, but supersti- 

 tious to an excess. He was not satisfied with con- 

 sulting all the quacks in Egypt, but all day long 

 there was a number of priests by his side, who read 

 chapters of the Alcoran, or rehearsed prayers. I 

 confess I was often tempted to laugh, when I 

 observed the astonishment which these stupid 

 preachers of the Alcoran discovered as they gazed 

 at me. An European, a Fra?2c, was, in their eyes, 

 a curiosity ; and being an infidel and a reprobate, 

 was supposed, of course, to have something extra- 

 ordinary about him. Their looks followed me, 

 and remained invariably fixed upon me. Every 

 step, every movement appeared to them wonder- 

 fully strange, and they could not possibly conceive 



how 



