SUEZ. 
me ; and cushions were provided for the other gentlemen. After 
cojSee, pipes were offered, and accepted by every one except 
myself. I then entered on business by stating, through Captain 
Bartou, that it was my wish to depart for Cairo as soon as possible, 
and that therefore I begged his permission to hire camels for the 
journey, and make an arrangement with the Arabs for my protec- 
tion. He replied, that I might command every assistance in his 
power, but that he considered himself as responsible for my safety, 
and consequently, could not venture to let me go without receiving 
the Pacha s instruction as to a guard ; he therefore requested that I 
would write to the British Agent, to make every arrangement at 
Cairo, and that he would send the letter by a messenger, which he 
should, according to his orders, immediately dispatch to the Pacha 
on the subject of my journey, having already sent to notify my 
arrival ; that the caravan from Tor was expected in four days, by 
which time I should receive an answer from Cairo, and be at liberty 
to act as I might think advisable. This was so reasonable, that I 
immediately complied. 
I next stated to him, that I was no merchant, and had nothing 
with me that was merchandise, except one bale of coffee, for which 
I was willing to pay duty ; but that I hoped he would permit my 
trunks, and boxes of shells, to pass unopened. He appealed to 
Captain Bartou if they had even opened his trunks ; how much 
less, then, would they do so by me ; and as for the coffee, if I had 
ten bales, they should not think of charging any duty on them. 
I expressed myself very much pleased and obliged, and it was de- 
termined that I should hire a warehouse, and send my boxes on 
shore, as I packed them. 
