gest, has been observed on the occafion. The name of the unhappy person is suppressed, and self-vindication alone could have induced him to revive a fubject, which more nearly affected the author and his companions, than all their subsequent misfortunes!
To conclude. Were books, any more than men, to be judged only by their good intentions were no regard to be paid to the figure which they make in the world-this work would have a better chance to maintain its ground. But as there are other points to be confidered; as truth can only be rendered efficacious in an amiable dress, and as the justest defcriptions must be disgraced by inelegant language, the author cannot divest himself of certain sensations, which must disturb the firmest mind, on the eve of committing its thoughts to the discussion of the public.
LETTER I. Page 1.
ADDRESS-The author purfues his voyage from Madras to Suez -Tedious passage across the Indian ocean. Makes the island of Socotra, Cape Guardafoy, the Arabian shore-Enters the Red-fea by the straits of Babelmandel-Hard Gale-Arrival in Mocha road- Occurrences at that city-Embarks again-Contrary winds-The vessel driven by currents on the Arabian coast-In imminent danger of being wrecked among the shoals and breakers---Obliged to put into the port of Yambo for a pilot-The author, &c. feduced ashore, and made prisoners by the vizier of that place-Incidents during their confinement-The craft and villainy of the Arabs apparent in their attempts to possess themselves of the veffel-Stratagem for that purpose-Its fuccefs-The vessel brought into the harbor, and the author, &c. return aboard under a guard, until an answer is received from the Xerif of Mecca, touching their destiny-A description of the town and environs of Yambo-Interviews with the vizier-In- Stances of his duplicity and pride-Various disappointments in the hope of a speedy answer-The shawbunder of Judda at length ar- rives, charged with powers from the Xerif, to dispose of the vessel and crew-Negociations on that head-The vessel is carried to Jud- da, under charge of an Arabian pilot, and the author and his fellow-travellers are allowed to proceed-Presents to the vizier on this occafion - Egregiously impofed upon by this minister in the bire of a veffel-They embark on an open loat for Suez.
LETTER II. Page 119.
ADDRESS-The author, &c. land at Cofire-Their reception
and accommodation there--Occurrences at that place-The de- mands of the government for its protection of our travellers-Unac- countable behavior of the Arab fhaik-They set out with the cara- van for Ghinnab on the Nile, under the care of the shaik's fon- Part with the caravan-Alarm-Inconveniency of this mode of travelling-Intense beat of the fun-They replenish their skins at fome Springs-Pursue their way, and experience extreme distress from thirst, beat, and fatigue-Relieved by their arrival at the Nile- Surprized at being carried to Banute instead of Ghiunah-Remon- strate with the young shaik, who confents to take them to that city-
Set out accordingly, and in fix hours are safely housed at Ghinnah- The villainy of their hoft and his family-Are visited by the vizier of the place—Attempts to chouse them out of their money and effects -Find themselves close prisoners-Their baggage searched and re- peatedly pillaged by the host and his affociates-Vifit from the ha- keem of the city, by the order of his master, the Shaik Ul Arab- Enquiry into their wrongs-Tumult in the house on that account- Uncommon instance of courage and fidelity in an Arab domestic-The bakeem removes our travellers to his own habitation-He is fup- planted in his office by an Abyssinian, who, at the express commands of the shaik, takes them under his protection-The meanness and rapacity of this flave-Advice comes to Ghinnah of a robbery and murder committed on their late inhuman hoft, in a dispute with the young shaik of Cofire about his ill-gotten booty-Reflections on this tragical event-The arrival of the Shaik Ul Arab-His interview with our travellers-His perfon and character described-His po- liteness and humanity-Exemplary instances of his impartiality and. justice-Unhappy state of the country of Egypt-Rebellion on the Nile-The paffage to Cairo by the river shut up-Doubts how to proceed-Our travellers resolve to pursue their route through the defarts of Thebais-Are confirmed in this intention by the good shaik, who provides them with a conductor, and essentially interests himself in their Safety-They take leave of their generous benefactor, and enter the defarts with a body of fixteen—The rugged and mountain- ous face of the country-Unexpectedly fall in with a party of ca- mels, which proves to be a band of robbers, journeying from the Red- fea towards Cairo-A treaty concluded with the captain of the rob- bers-An Arab feast-The two parties proceed in company-Diffi- culties of the road-Continual ranges of mountains every where pre- fent themselves to the traveller-Sudden tranfitions from heat to cold in the course of the journey-Replenish their water-fkins twice in the defart-Provisions begin to fail with the author and his companions -Readily
-Readily relieved by the robbers-Their forbearance and strict ob- fervance of their word-Halt in the neighborhood of the Nile to procure water-Alarm-Strike into the defart, and pass over rocks of granite or Thebaic marble-Obtain a fight of the Nile, and come upon the encampment of the robbers-The author, &c. part with these fingular people-Remarks on their hofpitality and good faith- Rejoin the Nile—Travel on its banks-Pass the villages of Vel Ha- die and Iscour, and difcern the pyramids to the westward of the river -Halt at Tinnah, and engage a boat to convey them the remaining Short distance-Joyfully embark for the capital-Happy arrival there, and friendly reception by the Company's agent.
Occurrences at Grand Cairo—Curfory obfervations on the city and its antiquities-Concise narrative of the late revolution in Egypt-Our travellers return letters and presents to the worthy Shaik Ul Arab by the camels, and embark for Alexandria-Delightful voyage down the Nile Review of the towns and country on its banks-Arrive at Rofetto-Beauty of its fituation-The road to Alexandria infested with robbers-Reimbark in a boat bound to that port-Critical fituation at the bogage, or mouth of the Nile—The boat ftrikes the fands, but luckily escapes, and enters the Mediterranean- Dreary appearance of the coast of Egypt-They Safely reach Alexandria, after a passage of fixteen hours-Some account of that city, and the elegant remains in its neighborhood-Droll anecdote of fome English captains-Affecting story of the death of the late French Conful of Alexandria-Occurrences at that city-The au- thor and his companions embark on a French Ship for Marseilles -Conclufion-Poftfcript.
APPENDIX. Page 394.
AN Ode to the Defart, and another to the Nile, referrea to this place from the body of the Work.
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