444 
FOUA. 
soldiers he could depend on, being himself an object of plunder for 
the Albanians, who continually came hither from the army, which was 
at no great distance, under Taher Pacha, and was supplied hence with 
provisions ; and he owned he could not receive us in his house, from 
the confusion that reigned. After an excellent meat breakfast, and 
coffee, we departed. Some of the party went into the town to view 
the ovens in which chickens are hatched, but the heat was so great, 
that Mr. Salt and I returned to the tents in the Commandant's 
canja. On the way we saw a jerm just arrived from Cairo. I called 
to know who was in her, when Dr. Raffaelli and his son appeared, 
and were rejoiced to see me, as they had fallen into the hands of a 
rascally Rais, who had taken on board twenty-eight pilgrims from 
Mecca, after the Doctor had paid for the whole vessel, and had been 
already delayed six days on the way. I immediately returned to the 
Commandant with my friends, and told the Rais to attend to make his 
defence. He was clearly to blame, and was tol d that, had he not been 
a person belonging to the Custom-house, he would have been flogged ; 
that as it was, he must immediately go down to the place where my 
boats lay, and sail in the morning with me. I then returned to the 
tents with my friends, and' soon afterwards the jerm arrived. 
While I was writing my journal, a little dancing girl about nine 
years old, with two men to play on the usual instruments, came to 
the tent door. The child danced for some time, and several of the 
soldiers sat on a bank facing the large opening left for air. I con- 
iversed familiarly with them through my servants, and, as the wea- 
ther was hot, gave several of them oranges. Soon after, a differ- 
ence arose between my people, and some of those who crowded 
round the tent, Ivhom they wished to drive away. I blamed my 
