in them, and in that state conveyed them to our mouths,—then followed coffee and narghilis (water pipes) and chibouques,—after which the attendants who had hitherto been standing round, staring at us as at wild beasts during feeding-time, took their departure, and we entered on business, when we learnt that Ibrahim had broken up his camp here two or three days before, and had, as was supposed, retired across the Anti-Libanus to Damascus. It was agreed that next morning we should cach, (Colonel B. and self), be furnished with escorts, and proceed in different directions to endeavour to gain certain intelligence of the enemy's

movements.

"After smoking several pipes and drinking coffee, we all retired to another apart. ment; I to finish my military sketch of the road, the others to endeavour to sleep. I say endeavour, as the multitude of fleas rendered it no easy matter so to do. It would have amused you to have witnessed the scene in our dormitory--myself, by the light of a dim candle stuck into an inkstand,

working away on my sabre-tâche, for table there was none,-whilst some of the party, rolled up in their cloaks, were either snoring after the fatigues of the day, or cursing the pigmy enemies which kept them awake.

"In the morning Lieutenant Rowan was sent back with the intelligence we had collected,-Colonel Bridgeman and myself proceeding on our respective missions. We mustered our forces, and, dividing them in two parties, had each an escort of about twenty-five fine looking fellows, who from their appearance you would fancy were complete fire-eaters-but I soon learned to estimate them at their real value. Behold me, then, at the head of a set of wild Mountaineers, with the banner of black ostrich feathers floating overhead-as passing the "tomb of Noah," at Kérák, we crossed the extensive plain of Baalbec, and approached the sides of the Anti-Libanus. This plain is the granary of the East, being seventy or eighty miles in length, and seven or eight in breadth, perfectly level, and not a house or tree seen n its whole extent, which is richly culti

vated, and in the spring,-when clothed in maize, barley, and Indian corn,-must resemble the "Vega" of Granada.

"On approaching the opposite range of mountains, my escort showed great reluc tance to enter the pass, and about half the party sneaked off, one by one, whilst the remainder shewed every symptom of wishing to retrace their steps. I happened to have in my pocket a "Union Jack" handkerchief, and hoisting it on the end of the spear with the black ostrich plume, I told them they could never think of deserting the united banner of England and the Mountain,this succeeded, and I got them on seven or eight miles further.

"It would have put you strongly in mind of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, to have seen me and my trusty squire, Gardiner, at this moment. I entrusted the banner to him, and, throwing out an advanced guard, pushed on at the head of my little troop of semibarbarians, in appearance very like one myself, habited in a shell-jacket and dragoon trowsers, well cased with leather,—pistols in

my belt, and an enormous Turkish sabre dangling by my side. I doubt not the facsimile of the knight of la Mancha was complete except in one particular, and that was the "Monture;" for the charger I bestrode was a noble Arab, which the Commodore had given me at his departure. Well, I got the rascals to follow me in this manner the whole way across the Anti-Libanus, until we came to a pass overlooking the plain of Damascus-here they came to a dead halt, and refused to advance a step further; I prayed, swore, and threatened— all in vain; and at last telling them all to go to h-1, for a set of poltroons, including a couple of princes of the party, old Gardiner and myself pushed down the hill, and entered the town of Zébédéni alone.

"We found the place in possession of a freebooter of the name of Hassan Cadi-to whose house I went immediately; but as I was not exactly sure of the reception I might meet with, I put a bold face on the matter, went into his apartment, and, thanks to the Arabic lessons of my pretty friends at Bey

rout, told him, without the help of an interpreter, we were come to his assistance with English forces, that he was a monstrous fine fellow, and God knows what more,-which, however, ended by his calling for pipes and coffee, after which ceremony you have nothing more to apprehend from an Arab. I now learnt that Ibrahim had left Zébédéni two days before, and was then at Damascus (a few hours distance) but that he intended to move to the south. I should have liked to have pushed forward, but my horse was too much fagged to go on such an expedition, when he might have had to depend on his speed to escape, for I was sure I should not be supported by my mountain friends, who by this time, seeing all was right, had arrived with great tomashah, firing off their muskets and shewing other expressions of joy. It was, however, getting late, and having accomplished the object of obtaining positive information relative to the enemy, I mounted my horse and set off on my return. I forgot, however, to say that all this time, the union-jack was proudly floating in front