39^ 
CAIRO. 
mediately prepared to attack the Mamelukes, who were lurking in 
the date groves but his Albanians thought it safest to proceed so 
slowly, that the enemy had sufficient time to retire before they 
were within reach. Tah^r Pacha told them plainly, that they were 
only fit to extort money from the peaceable natives, but that they 
would never be induced to seize it from an armed enemy. Our 
cavalry attended us across the plain to Gheza, a distance of only six 
miles, but rendered very fatiguing by the cultivation of the ground, 
over which we were obliged to move, and by the heat of the sun 
passing through an unclouded sky. We were all heartily fatigued 
when we reached Cairo, after having been in motion for twelve 
hours. 
March 6th. ^ — I received a letter from Captain Court, informing 
me that they were in the greatest distress for water and provisions. 
At my request, Mr. Macardle very kindly sent off his servant to 
Schech Chedid, desiring him instantly to forward to Suez, forty 
sheep and three bullocks. 
I was this day to visit his Highness the Pacha, to take my 
leave. I mentioned to him the distress of the Panther for water. 
He instantly ordered a letter to be written to the Governor on the 
subject : it was sealed in my presence^ and delivered to me to be 
forwarded. I observed that he watched the Secretary very closely 
the whole time the seal was in his hand. He presented me a sabre 
with his own hand, requesting I would keep it for his sake. His 
attendants gave one to Mr. Macgie, Mr. Salt, Captain Rudland, and 
my servant. Shortly afterwards, I was presented with a rich pellisse 
of sable, worth here about two thousand piastres. I immediately 
put my right arm into it, and again sat down. He made a great 
