AND LOWER EGYPT. 2t 



I, " you will readily forgive a stranger, a traveller, 

 " an officer who has no connexion with the milt* 

 " tary land-service, for being ignorant of your 

 "existence, however important it may be; and 

 u soups are not among the objects of my pursuit." 

 " That is enough, Sir," resumed M. Querelle, 

 somewhat disconcerted ; if you may go whenever 

 " you please : as to all these people," added he 

 with a tone of dignity, turning round to my fellow- 

 passengers, " let them go, I don't concern myself 

 " with them." We took our leave, laughing hear- 

 tily at this little adventure, the analogy of which 

 with the name of the commandant was so striking. 



The wind had sprung up, the sea was in a state 

 of agitation, the sky overclouded ; every thing 

 announced the approach of 'foul weather. Our 

 master discovered little inclination to leave the har- 

 bour ; he yielded nevertheless to my importunity, 

 and we set sail, while the other tartans kept snug 

 in port, though it had been agreed that we should 

 sail in company. The night was tempestuous, 

 and a very heavy sea made our little bark to la- 

 bour exceedingly. It is well known how danger- 

 ous navigation is in that part of the Mediterranean 

 into which the Rhone precipitates itself. Hence 

 it has obtained the appellation of Golfe de Lion 

 (mare Leonis, Lion's gulf), being, thus to express 

 myself, terrible and cruel from the miseries which 



c 3 the 



