i6 4 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



our landlord, the Schourbatchie, upon whom I had my cre- 

 dit, and who had diflinguifhed himfelf by being very fer- 

 viceable and obliging to us, happened to be the proprietor of 

 a boat, for which, at that time, he had little employment ; 

 nothing would fatisfy him but my hiring that boat, in- 

 stead of returning in that which brought us up. 



This could by no means be done, without breaking faith 

 with our Rais, Abou Cuffi, which I was refolved not to do 

 on any account whatever, as the man had behaved honeftly 

 and well in every refpect. The janhTaries took the part of 

 their brother againft the ftranger, and threatened to cut 

 Abou Cuffi to pieces, and throw him to the crocodiles. 



On the other part, he was very far from being terrified. 

 He told them roundly, that lie was a fervant of Ali Bey, 

 that, if they attempted to take his fare from him, their pay 

 ihould be flopped at Cairo, till they furrendered the guilty 

 perfon to do him juftice. He laughed moll unafledtedly at 

 the notion of cutting him to pieces ; and declared, that, if he 

 was to complain of the ufage he met when he went down to 

 Lower Egypt, there would not be a janiflary from Syenc 

 who would not be in much greater danger of crocodiles* 

 than he. 



I went in the evening to the Aga,and complained of my 

 landlord's behaviour. I told him pofitively, but with great 

 mew of refpecl, I would rather go down the Nile upon a 

 raft, than fet my foot in any other boat but the one that 

 brought me up. I begged him to be cautious how he pro- 

 ceeded, as it would be my Jlorj, and not bis, that would go 



to 



