62t TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



Cairo, no longer to depend upon the ordinary or rational 

 courfe of events, but upon the arbitrary, oppreflive will of 

 irrational tyrants. Accordingly I had, for about an hour, 

 loft myfelf in the very uncommon enjoyment of a moft 

 profound fleep, when I was awakened by the noife of a 

 a number of ftrange tongues ; and, before I could recolle(5t 

 myfelf fufiiciently to account what this flrange tumult 

 might be, eleven or twelve foldiers, very like the worft of 

 banditti, furroundcd the carpet whereon I was afleep. I had 

 prefence of mind fufficient to recollect this was not a place 

 where people were robbed and murdered without caufe; and, 

 convinced in my own mind that I had given none, from that 

 alone I inferred I was not to be robbed or murdered at 

 that inftant. Without this, the appearance of the ftrangers, 

 their drefs, language, and behaviour, all joined to perfuade 

 me of the contrary. I afked them, with fome furprife, 

 " What is the matter, Sirs ? What is the meaning of this 

 freedom ?" The anfwer was in Turkifh, " Aya ! Aya ! Get 

 up ! the Bey calls you." — The Eey, fays I, certainly calls at 

 a very unfeafonable hour." The anfwer was, " Get up, or 

 we will carry you by force." — I fancy friends, faid I, you 

 have miftaken me for fome other perfon, I have not been 

 here above tv/o hours, and fmce that time have never been 

 out of the convent. It is impoflible the Bey fliould know that 

 lamhcre." — " What fjgnilies it to us, fays one in lingua Fran- 

 ca, whether he knows you are here or not ? he has fent us for 

 V weare come, Aya! Aya! get up!" He put his hand 



to take me by the arm. " Keep your diftancc, you 

 lack guar (f, faid I, remember I am an Engliihman ; 

 y your hands upon me. If the Bey calls me, he 

 in his own country, and I vvill wait upon him ; 

 ids oil I though I have not fsen Mahomet Bcv thefe 



three 



