EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 231 
to the Melek's letter, hinting at the fame time that they under- 
ftood what it meant. I acquiefced, notwithftanding my earneft 
defire of going eaftward ; and it afterwards was proved to me 
in a way fufficiently clear, that this letter was the refult of a 
fcheme concerted between the Melek and my fervant Ali, by 
which it was contrived that I fhould reach the eaftern confine, 
and there perifli by the hands of my attendants. 
During my refidence at El Fafher and Cobbe, I had been 
repeatedly aflured, and that from thofe perfons who were beft 
informed, that the Sultan never meant to permit my departure; 
and the imperfect compenfation he had direded for what had 
been brought him confirmed that opinion. But as I knew 
much is done among perfons of that defcription by whifpers, 
I took care to fpread them thickly in his way. To the Chabir 
I promifed an ample recompence for his affiftance, and fet 
before him the confequences of his appearing in Kahira without 
me. I alfo offered proofs that I had been able to difpatch let- 
ters to Egypt, unknown to the government here. The Chabir 
did not negled to ufe his intereft with the Sultan ; and whe- 
ther the latter was really intimidated by thefe vain infmuations, 
whether he had begun to hold a more favourable opinion of 
me from my having been fo long in the country without 
attempting any thing improper, or whether he was not in reality 
much more tranquil and indifferent on the fubje£t than we at 
that time imagined, I cannot even now with certainty affirm. 
We arrived at Le Hairaer about a month before Ramadan, 
and it was not till the fixth day of El Hedge, the fecond month 
after 
