7°2 



Indians say it is both meat and drink, so nourishing and salutary 

 that their cattle require less grain than when drinking other water. 

 Their encomium and general delight reminded me of the water of 

 the Nile, whichMaillet, formerly French consul at Cairo, says is so de- 

 licious, that the Egyptians do not wish the heat diminished lest the 

 sensation of thirst should subside; they eat salted things purposely 

 to excite it anew, and when absent dwell upon the pleasure they 

 shall enjoy in drinking it again: all foreigners who taste it, declare 

 they never met with such water any where else, having some- 

 thing inexpressibly agreeable to the taste, though mingled with 

 much sweetness. Herodotus says the Memphians filled large jars 

 with the Nile water, and transported it to the Syrian deserts : 

 Arislides adds that the Egpvtians preserved it in earthen jars, three 

 or four years; it never became impure; on the contrary, its value 

 was enhanced by age, as is that of wine in other countries. 



Finding the enemy were encamped within a few miles of us, we 

 struck our tents early on the following morning, and, hoping to 

 bring them to action, marched along the banks of the Saber- 

 matty, to the village of Hossamlee ; from whence we perceived 

 the whole confederate army on the opposite side of the river, ad- 

 vancing in order of battle. The English line immediately formed, 

 and a cannonade across the river commenced on both sides, which 

 continued two hours; at length we silenced their guns, and com- 

 pelled their left wing and centre to retire: the right kept their 

 ground, and a strong body of cavalry crossing the river repeatedly 

 charged a detachment under the command of captain Stewart, 

 with two field-pieces directed by lieutenant Torriano, who repulsed 



