42,6 
BARAMOUN 
oppression under which the country laboured ; that scarcely a 
week passed without a contribution ; and that at present their means 
of payment were totally exhausted. We got at night to Baramoun, 
where the Caimakan Mohammed Aga Blefie waited on me. He was 
formerly a Mameluke of Osman Bey Hassan. He spoke in a still 
more desponding way of the situation of the country, and the extor- 
tions exercised by the Albanians and the government. He said the 
inhabitants had nothing left ; that all their cattle had been sold ; 
that those who then worked night and day to raise water, belonged to 
Basilio Tacha, to whom the crops were mortgaged. He seemed com- 
pletely heart-broken at being the instrument of these extortions, and 
prayed most earnestly that the merciful God would send the English 
to restore peace and plenty. 
I was pleased to find our nation thus wished for, in a part of the 
country where they had never been, but where their character 
could only have been learned from the other inhabitants of Egypt. 
He still begged me to mention any thing 1 wanted, as, in spite of 
their distress, he would find it for me. I declined everything except 
milk and bread, articles which I ever made it a rule to pay for, and 
watched very closely that no extortions were practised in my name, 
by our numerous followers. Among these was the Ghaous Bashi of 
the Governor of Damietta, who always wished to be taking what he 
chose, and to pay for nothing. He gave this day a good sample of 
Turkish manners. Our boat was in tow of the jerms, and the wind 
being very fresh, it was once or twice dashed against us ; the Ghaous 
struck the son of the Rais who was at the helm, with a stick, and 
not satisfied w4th that, drew his pistol, and was with some difficulty 
prevented from shooting him. 
