1 19
2 was attended with a very fortunate result. I went on to
3 Damascus, via Haspeye and Rasheye, from whence I continued
4 my journey to Homs and Hama, in Syria, with the caravan
5 of hajjees (pilgrims). At the latter places I purchased a con-
6 siderable collection of old coins, in gold, silver and copper,
7 as also several engraved gems. I made my way back to
8 Beyrout, via Akar and Tripoli, where I embarked on board
9 an English vessel for Alexandria. This short journey had also
10 its peculiar adventures ; for it happened in a period when,
11 after the revolution in Greece, the Mediterranean was infested
12 by numerous pirates. In the evening of the same day on which
13 we lost sight of the snowy summits of the Lebanon, we dis-
14 covered, by the light of the moon, that we were surrounded by
15 five ships-of-war. Our captain was, in insulting language,
16 summoned by the respective captains of these vessels to come
17 on board their ships, so that he was at a loss which of them
18 to choose. He therefore remained in his own vessel, until some
19 soldiers were sent on board our ship to fetch him. The visitors,
20 who were but little acquainted with politeness, set about carry-
21 ing away some purses filled with crowns (dollars), during which
22 operation a quarrel arose among them, and we saw them on the
23 point of beginning a fight, as their swords, knives, and pistols
24 were already held forth for the assault; but happily, no blood
25 was shed. It was the patrol of Mahomed Ali making the
26 round. They took our captain with them, and examined his
27 papers, conveying him from one ship to another, which opera-
28 tion lasted four hours. As this happened in the vicinity of
29 Cyprus, the captain made his complaint there to the British
30 consul, and, on arriving at Alexandria, he immediately received
31 satisfaction, as an imperative mandate was forwarded, and the
32 patrol recalled.
33 At Cyprus, I called on my friend the French ex-Consul of
34 Tripoli, Mr. Reynold, where I met with a kind reception, as lie
35 required my medical assistance. I had also, during my short
36 stay at Alexandria, the opportunity of curing a countryman of
37 mine, a Hungarian, who had been many years afflicted with
38 VOL. I.
39 E