AJffD LOWER EGYPT. o>1 3 



On returning to my lodging at Rossetta, M. For- 

 ncti shewed me a letter which he had just received 

 from the Jew drogman at Aboukir. He informed 

 us that, at the moment of the embarkation of the 

 little pyramid, the garrison of the castle had op- 

 posed it. M. Forneti went immediately to the 

 Aga of Rossetta, who had also the command of 

 Aboukir; and he had obtained, not without a 

 great many difficulties, an order that the pyramid 

 should be allowed to depart. That officer had been 

 already informed of the affair before M. Forneti 

 mentioned it to him. lie pretended that the peo- 

 ple with whom we had bargained for the purchase 

 of the marble had not a right to sell it ; and that 

 to him alone we ought to have made application. 

 This gave me to understand that I must lay my 

 account with paying for it twice over. The Aga 

 added, that he had been assured that the little 

 pyramid was quite full of gold. In consequence 

 of this idea he gave orders, that immediately upon 

 the arrival of the pyramid at Rossetta, it should be 

 brought to him first, in order that he might exa- 

 mine it, and see himself the gold which it con- 

 tained. If he should not discover any, he con- 

 scnted to sell it to us. 



The ignorant Aga did not confine himself to 

 these precautions ; he secretly sent for the janisary 

 who had accompanied us to Aboukir, to learn of 

 him, if there was not concealed gold in the piece 



of 



