SUEZ. 
351 
only five dollars. As this contemptuous depreciation only aggra- 
vated the offence, I replied it was very well — I should take care to 
represent the whole business at Cairo. He instantly sent his chief 
officer to conjure me not to do so, as the consequence would be his 
total ruin, and to make every kind of apology. I had too much 
regard for the old man, who had, in every other respect, treated 
me with the greatest civility, to intend to put my threat into execu- 
tion, and therefore assured him that every thing unpleasant should 
be forgotten. 
Michael very wisely refused to make any charge for the use of 
his house and warehouse, or for his trouble, which he well knew 
would reduce me to the necessity of making him a present. As he 
had been very useful and attentive, I gave him a shawl for himself, 
and the piece of muslin for his wife, which the Do la had refused. 
I also gave twenty dollars to his servants. All the officers that could 
leave the ship, dined with me after I came on shore, to partake 
of the good things which the caravan brought from Cairo, The 
greatest luxuries were the oranges, vegetables, and fresh butter, 
which Mr. Aziz had sent over ; but Mr. Pringle having left Mo- 
cha, we considered a cargo, which he had ordered by Captain 
Bartou, as fair plunder ; and this consisted of figs, raisins, Sardi- 
nias, fish roes, and pickled mullets. The arrival of the caravan 
made it impossible to procure any thing in the market but fish 
and eggs. 
Suez was formerly a place of considerable splendour, each Bey 
having a house there, in which his factor resided. The buildings 
are many of them large, but are, at present, little more than a heap 
of ruins, chiefly owing to the wanton injuries of the French, who 
