I 
SUEZ. 543 
I was now presented to the custom roaster, who was a fat laugh- 
ing Christian named Michael, who offered me his services, but 
turned me over, for a supply of provisions, to a namesake of inferior 
rank, who was agent for the vessels consigned to Signor Carlo 
Rosetti. He informed me that supplies were very uncertain ; that 
even the water was brought in by the Arabs daily, and that we 
should not be able to procure any of that for the ship, without 
giving these plunderers a present of ninety-two dollars, an extortion 
to which we were obliged to submit. He said^ that when our arrival 
should be known, some sheep would probably be brought down, and 
that he would try and procure us a few bullocks ; but that they 
were worth fifteen dollars per hundred weight. Eggs and fish alone 
were in abundance, and cheap. My servant had forgotten to bring 
the present intended for the Dola, I was therefore obliged to apolo- 
gise to him on my taking leave, but he with his usual good humour 
assured me it was of no consequence. I took Michael with me on 
board Captain Barton's vessel, where I wrote to Mr. Aziz, the 
British Resident at Cairo ; and inclosed him letters for Major 
Missett, and my friends in England. We were an hour and a half 
in reaching the vessel, in consequence of being obliged to go round 
the shoal. The weather was very cool, the thermometer being at 
54° in the morning. 
February 1. — I sent several of my trunks to Michael's, and 
my servant with a piece of muslin richly worked with gold 
for the Dola, which the old man was pleased to say, was not 
of sufficient value for him to accept, though it cost at Mocha 
fifteen dollars. Nothing can be a greater insult among the Mus- 
sulmauns than to return a present : I however said nothing, and 
