I 
416 DAMIETTA. 
the latter capacity. I found a letter from Mr. Filippo Agnelli, re- 
commending me to apply to a reverend Catholic priest, of the name 
of Padre Basilio, for any information I might want respecting Da- 
mietta. I sent for him, and he came immediately. I found him very 
intelligent. We walked with him in the evening to see the remains 
of an ancient obelisk mentioned by Andreossi, as forming the door- 
sill of the barracks. It is of granite, but nearly worn away. We next 
went to two pedestals, placed near the door of a merchant : the one 
had a Latin inscription, which Mr. Salt copied ; it consisted of only 
two lines, in capital letters, and was as follows : 
LIGINIAE LF SECUNDAE 
DOMITI GATULLI. 
the other had one of Greek, which was partly concealed by a step, 
and turned topsy-turvy. We obtained permission from the owner 
to have it removed, that it also might be copied. He informed 
us that they were not found in Egypt, but brought in a vessel from 
Syria. 
On determining to visit the Delta, we had written to Mohammed 
Ali Pacha, requesting a firmaun to the Governor of Damietta : one 
arrived yesterday, making him answerable, with his head, for our 
safety, directing him to afford us every assistance in his power, and 
to shew us every attention. We all went to the Hummaum in the 
afternoon, and were well cleansed from the dust of the Desert. Our 
baggage arrived at one ; but we could hear no news of the boat and 
servants. 
April 29.— I applied in the morning to the Governor, for the use 
of his boat to carry me to Lesbe, at the mouth of the Nile, which 
was immediately granted. This village was destroyed by the 
