IX. 
334 EGYPT. 
CHAP, proceeding, we ventured to hail a young officer 
upon the poop, and to inquire for the situation 
of the Braakel. Captain Castle immediately 
warned us to beware of repeating the question ; 
saying, that we should soon be sensible of the 
immeasurable distance at which the inhabitants 
of those floating islands hold the master of a 
merchant smack : and so it was proved by the 
answer, which came, like thunder, in three 
monosyllables, easier for the reader to imagine 
than for an author to express. Soon after, the 
Quarter-master of the Braakel came alongside, 
in the jolly-boat ; Captain Clarke, who expected 
us, having surmised, as he afterwards informed 
us, from our pitiful appearance and wavering 
4:rack, that we were his visitors, and in want of 
a pilot. Having reached his comfortable cabin, 
we were soon introduced to the officers both of 
the army and the navy ; and found, after our long 
absence from England, the society of our coun- 
trymen particularly grateful. We enjoyed, what 
we had long wanted, the guidance of books and 
of well-informed men, concerning countries we 
were yet to explore. According to the promise 
we had made to the Capudan Pasha, we accom- 
panied Captain Clarke to the Sultan Selim, and 
introduced him to the Turkish Admiral. Several 
days were employed in visiting the different 
ships^, in search of friends and schoolfellows; 
