622 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
Cairo, no.longer to depend upon the ordinary or rational 
courfe of events, but upon the arbitrary, oppreflive will of 
irrational tyrants. Accordingly I had, for about an hour, 
loft myfelf in the very uncommon enjoyment of a moft . 
profound fleep, when I was awakened by the noife of a 
a number of ftrange tongues ; and, before I could recollect 
myfelf fufficiently to account what this ftrange tumult 
might be, eleven or twelve foldiers, very like the worft of 
banditti, furrounded the carpet whereon I was afleep. I had 
prefence of mind fufficient to recollect this was not a place 
where people wererobbedand murdered without caufe; and, 
convinced in my own mind that I had given none, from that — 
alone I inferred I was not to be robbed or murdered at 
that inftant, Without this, the appearance of the ftrangers, 
their drefs, language, and behaviour, all joined to perfuade 
me of the contrary. I afked them, with fome furprife, 
““ What is the matter, Sirs? What is the meaning of this 
freedom?” The anfwer was in Turkith, “ Aya! Aya! Get 
up! the Bey calls you.”—The Bey, fays I, certainly calls at 
a very unfeafonable hour.” The anfwer was, “ Get up, or 
we will carry you by force.”—I fancy friends, faid I, you © 
have miftaken me for fome other perfon, I have not been 
here above two hours, and fince that time have never been 
out of the convent. It is impoffible the Bey fhould know that 
Tam here.”—* What fignifies it to us, fays one in lingua Fran- 
ca, whether he knows you arehere or not? he has fent us for 
you, and we are come, Aya! Aya! get up!” He put his hand 
forward to take me by thearm. “ Keep your diflance, you 
infolent blackguard, faid I, remember I am an Englifhman ; 
do not lay your hands upon me. If the Bey calls me, he 
is mafter in his own country, and I will wait upon him; 
But hands off: though I have not feen Mahomet Bey thefe . 
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