42:4 DAMIETTA. 
fishery, particularly of the mullet, whose roe is cured and exported 
in great abundance under the name of botargo. In the time of the 
Mamelukes there were three times that number. Opposite Matarieh 
is another town on an island of equal size, the Schech el Belled of 
which came to pay his compliments. On my mentioning the name 
of Hassan Toubar, the old Schech immediately addressed himself 
to Signor Gabriello, and said, " How does he know any thing of 
Hassan Toubar? where could he hear of him?" He also knew of 
Schech Abdallah, and ordered the people to go there ; when did 
he learn this?" On its being explained to me, I told him the 
English knew well his brother, and all that belonged to him, which 
was unintentionally an odd sort of a compliment, as Hassan Toubar 
was very much attached to the French. The natives were uni- 
formly civil to us ; as we walked along the streets they always 
made their salaams. The women were veiled, but chatted freely. 
I observed several green turbans. We sent our baggage on board 
in the evening. Signor Gabriello and Padre Basilio went on board 
and sailed in the night. 
' May 4. — We were up by three, and at half after four set sail. The 
wind was fair till ten. We reached the shore by two, where we found 
the horses and asses waiting for us by the orders of Signor Gabriello. 
When we reached Damietta we went to the Hummaum. 
May 5. — We hired two boats to take us to Mansoura. Achmed 
Aga, the governor, sent to express his regret that I had not applied 
to him for any thing I wanted, to offer his canja, and to say that 
he would get me as many more boats as I wished. I told his Kiaia I 
did not want his canja, or I should certainly have applied for it. 
Vincenzo gave him a hint, as from himself, that he was surpriyed 
