. 20 MALUS. 
were lodged like Arabs ; I had close to my cabin a small 
enclosure containing my horses, camels, and asses; an 
aviary full of fowls, geese, and ducks, a pen for my two 
sheep, another for a boar; houses for my pigeons, and 
my goat enjoyed its liberty. It was in a great measure 
in this society that I passed three months of my sojourn 
in Egypt which were to me particularly agreeable. A 
perfect tranquillity, peaceable enjoyments, and waiting 
for an enemy whom we calculated on conquering, hin- 
dered us from wishing for conveniences of which we 
were deprived.” 
Malus here does not say all; at Cathith he composed 
a memoir on light, of which we shall have occasion to 
speak presently. If it should happen that in analyzing 
this work, we should find therein some results which 
may, or which ought to be, contested, we may remark 
that it was composed half a century ago, and that the 
author was in a position truly exceptional when he was 
engaged in it. 
I find mentioned in the memoranda that in a re- 
connoissance which he made with a detachment of 
dromedaries of which he had the command, Malus 
encountered a caravan, attacked it, dispersed if, and 
obtained a great number of camels, and a quantity of 
provisions. 
On quitting Cathith,’ Malus went to Cairo, where he 
received from Kléber (October 21, 1799,) the brevet 
rank of Chief of Battalion, the just recompense of such 
active services and so much courage displayed by the 
young captain, ever since the first disembarkation of the 
French army in Egypt. The commandant Malus having 
learnt at Cairo that a disembarkation of Turks was pre- 
paring near Damietta, hastened thither; where, when 
