586 CAIRO. 
river to Gheza, but, when there, discovered that the Governor, who 
had been ordered to attend us with all his garrison, had gone out, 
in the night, to a neighbouring village, in consequence of the ap- 
pearance of a Bey, and some Mamelukes of Elfi in its vicinity. Our 
friend the interpreter went to him, and soon returned with assu- 
rances, that the Governor had certain information of the enemy 
being one thousand strong, that he believed they were come down 
solely to attack us, and that therefore he had felt it his duty to 
communicate to his Highness this unexpected circumstance, and 
must wait for his commands before he could venture to move. He 
very politely added, that as he hoped to be able to make them 
retire in the course of the day, I might not like to return to Old 
Cairo, in which case his house was very much at my service. I 
declined his invitation, and prefered lounging during the day in 
the groves and gardens of Rhoda, while the Interpreter went to the 
Pacha. He joined us again at dinner, and brought a message from 
his Highness, expressing his extreme regret at what had happened, 
assuring me that he would send over troops sufficient to protect 
me, and that his household cavalry, and the French Mamelukes, 
should attend me as as a body guard to the Pyramids. 
March 4. — ^We sent over our horses yesterday evening to avoid 
delay, and were up early : but our impatience was useless. It was 
ten before a Mameluke appeared, and then the guards were not 
arrived. At length, to my great surprise, I was informed, that 
Taher Pacha, Mohammed Ali's nephew, was arrived, and sitting 
on the bank of the river. I immediately went to pay my compli- 
ments to him, when he received me very civilly, and ofiered me a 
share of the carpet on which he was sitting, which I accepted. He 
