130 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 Cathieh 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 it, and 

 obtained a great number of camels, and a quantity of 

 provisions. 



On quitting Cathieh,; Malus went to Cairo, where he 

 received from Kleber (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 



