6o6 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



firman between this and Cairo." Ta. " We fliall leave it 

 upon that footing for the prefent, allow me only to fay, I am 

 a fcrvant of the king of England, travelling, by his order, 

 and for my own and my countrymen's information ; that I 

 had rather rifk my life twenty times, than lofe the papers I 

 have left in the defert." Jga. " Go in peace, and eat and fleep. 

 Carry them, fays he, fpeaking to his attendants, to the houfe 

 of the Schourbatchie." Thus ended our firft interview with 

 the Aga, who put us in poflelfion of a very good houfe, and i^ 

 happened to be the veiy man to whom I was recommended 

 by my correfpondents at Cairo when I was firft here, who 

 had abfolutely forgotten, but foon remembered me, as did 

 many others, but my old friend the Aga had been changed, 

 ^nd was then at Cairo. 



We were not long arrived before we received from the 

 Aga about fifty loaves of fine wheat bread, and feveral large 

 diflies of dreft meat. But the fmell of thefe laft no fooner 

 reached me than I fainted upon the floor. I made feveral 

 trials afterwards, with no better fuccefs, for the firft two 

 days, nor could I reconcile myfelf to any fort of food but 

 toafted bread and coflTee. My fervants had none of thefe 

 qualms, for they partook largely and greedily of the Aga's 

 bounty, 



I HAD kept the houfe five or fix days after my arrival, 

 during which I correfponded with the Aga only by meftages, 

 and fiom my fervant who had pafled between us he had 

 learned the whole of our adventures. I then went to the 

 caftle for an audience, and intreated the Aga that he would 

 * procure fix or eight camels to mount my men upon, and 



bring 



