1 was attended with a very fortunate result. I went on to
2 Damascus, via Ilnspeye arid Rasheye, from-whence I continued
3 mv journey to Homs and Hama, in Syria, with the caravan
4 of bailees (pilgrims). At the latter placet I purchased a con¬
5 siderable collection of old coins, in gold, silver and copper,
6 also several engraved gems. I made my way back to
7 Heyrout, , l " Aknr and Tripoli, where I embarked on board
8 an English vessel for Alexandria. This short journey had also
9 its peculiar adventures; for it happened in a period when,
10 after the revolution in Greece, the Mediterranean was infested
11 bv numerous pirates. In the evening of the same day on which
12 we lost sight of the snowy summits of the Lebanon, we dis¬
13 covered, bv the light of the'moon, that we w ere surrounded by-
14 five ships-of-war. Our captain was, in insulting language,
15 summoned by the respective captains of these vessels t.o come
16 on boanl'their ships, so that lit was at a loss 'which of them
17 to choose. He therefore remained in his own vessel, until some
18 soldiers were sent on hoard Our ship to fetch him. The visitors,
19 who were but little acquainted with politeness,'set about carry¬
20 ing away some purses tilled with crowns (dollars), during which
21 Operation a quarrel arose among them, and vie sriw them on the
22 point of beginning a fight, os their swords, knives, and pistols
23 were already held forth for the assault; but happily, no blood
24 was shed. It was the patrol of Mahomed Ali making tin
25 round. They took our captain with them, and examined his
26 papers, conveying him from one ship to another, which opera¬
27 tion Insted four hours. As this happened in the vicinity of
28 Cyprus, the captain made iiis complaint there to the ilri'bh
29 consul, and, on arriving at Alexandria, he immediately received
30 satisfaction, a: an imperative mandate was forwarded, and the
31 patrol recalled.
32 At Cyprus, I called on my friend the French ex-Consul of
33 Tripoli, Mr. Reynold’, where I met with a kind reception, ns tie
34 required my medical assistance. I had also, during my short
35 stay at Alexandria, the opportunity of curing a countryman of
36 mine, a Hungarian, who hod berm many years afflicted with
37 VOT.. V.
38 i-: