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imagined, I lost no time in getting the whole of my precious charges conveyed on board. Fortunately, they and their attendants had hitherto all escaped contagion from the "prevailing epidemic;" and were, therefore, enabled -as far as we were ourselves concerned-to obtain a clean bill of health, immediately weighed anchor, and soon got out to sea,

The vessel which bore the "Emirs and their fortunes" was a fine corvette, called the Tanta, (from the name of a town in the Delta,) carrying 24 guns, with a crew of 146 men; and, as my party consisted altogether of no less than 66, we had consequently upwards of 200 souls on board. The commander, a Circassian, was a sharp fellow in his way, but evidently knew little of his trade, as his first step was to consult me relative to our proposed course of navigation; and in short, he appeared to consider me as de facto in command of the ship; in which novel position, my scanty knowledge of nautical affairs was soon put to rather a severe and unpleasant test.

Favoured by the "Khamseen"-which, as it swept over the "world of waters," appeared gradually, as we increased our distance from Egypt's low and sandy shores, to lose its fiery characteristics, and to become a cool and pleasant breeze-we crowded on a press of

sail.

The white buildings of Alexandria-the few date-trees scattered along the line of unbroken and level coast-the host of windmills to the westward of the town-Cleopatra's Needle--the tall Pharos-Pompey's Pillar -all classic relics of ancient times-these, and other familiar objects, were fast sinking behind the watery horizon; and under such favourable auspices we had every prospect of a pleasant and a speedy voyage.

Fatigued with the unavoidable exertions I had had to undergo, under a broiling sun, during the earlier part of the day, I had retired below to my cabin, to obtain a little repose, when an unusual noise upon deck, and the sudden and violent heeling over of our craft, plainly announced that something had gone wrong. I made instantly for the companionladder, but was nearly knocked down in my ascent, by the skipper, who was rushing down, post-haste, to tell me that we were overtaken by a violent squall, and to receive my directions as to what was to be done.

Fearful that in another minute we should be on our beam-ends, the only thing I could think of was to sing out lustily to "cut everything away." This order was obeyed, and the vessel immediately righted, as the clouds of canvas

she had been carrying, now streamed away to leeward, and fluttered wildly in the gale, which turned out to be only what is called by sailors a "white squall." In less than five minutes it was all over, leaving me, no doubt, in the eyes of our Egyptian crew, the credit of being the most expert of seamen, whose skill had saved the vessel, which now lay, heavily rolling in the trough of a short bubbling sea, quite powerless and becalmed.

Although the corvette was flush-decked, the after-part of her was covered in, and on a platform, slightly raised above the deck, were placed, in oriental fashion, ottomans and cushions, on which, during the fine weather which ensued, it was pleasant to recline. Here, either plying the bubbling caleeoun,* or inhaling the aroma of Latakia "tumbec," through the medium of a long cherry-stick pipe, would I sit for hours and hours, surrounded by my mountain friends; and the thought would sometimes occur, what a capital venture it would be, to turn free rover of the seas-to become the "Conrad" of such a tight, well-armed, little craft--had we only been manned by real seamen, instead of a set of lubberly Egyptian Fellaheens.

The crew, however, gave me no trouble, but far otherwise was the case with the "passengers" on board: the Sheikhs and Emirs, with their still more refractory attendants; whose propensity to be constantly smoking, both day and night, between the decks, caused constant apprehensions of accidents by fire, and kept me perpetually on the qui vive.

Troublesome as I found them all, more or less, in this and other respects, I must, however, make an exception in favour of the old Druse chieftain, Sheikh Hamoud-el-Neked, whom I have before had occasion to allude to.

At the commencement of the voyage, when all his companions in exile were suffering the miseries of sea-sickness (which, by the bye, they bore with aught save heroic fortitude), when, during the squall which I have described, they all evinced most unmistakeable symptoms of trepidation and alarm; the old Sheikh alone appeared unmoved and unmoveable, both in body and in mind.

On first going on board, he had, pipe in hand, taken up his position on the above-mentioned raised and covered-in divan, as being placed in the aftermost part of the corvette; here, apparently unshaken by either mental or bodily discomforts, he sat quietly smoking

* A small description of hookah, or water-pipe, much used in the Levant.

his "narghil," or calecoun, during the whole period of the voyage; for I do not remember to have seen him leave, for a single instant, his first selected post. An attendant regularly replenished his pipe, brought him his daily meals, and the noble-looking old warrior, with his piercing black eye-if I rightly remember, he had but one-and peaked, falcon nose, (the only feature of his countenance visible, between an enormous turban and a profusion of beard, whiskers, and moustache, white as the driven snow,) looked for all the world like one of those large owls, whose solemn, grave, and majestic appearanee, often fixes our attention in a "menagerie."

The old Sheikh and myself became great allies, and between the respective puffs of his caleeoun, and of my Turkish pipe, would we unreservedly discuss the eastern politics of the day, the causes and the origin of the war, the state of the "Dgebel," or mountain, (as the Lebanon is usually called,) the former oppression of the Turks, and the still more grinding tyranny of the Egyptians.

Of Ibrahim Pasha, the old warrior could not speak without a curse, and the atrocities he related as having been perpetrated by him, would, if true-nor had I reason to doubt the veracity of the old Sheikh-pass all belief: according to him no enemy ever escaped from his relentless spirit of revenge-no man from his hardened cruelty-no woman from his insatiable lust; and his unrestrained appetites were described as being so depraved, that I cannot here defile my page with an account of them.

Would that all my "charges" had given as little trouble as this venerable old chief! Their inveterate propensity to be constantly smoking in their confined berths, between decks, amidst heaps of baggage-together with the knowledge I had of the careless manner in which the gunpowder on board was secured-caused me continual uneasiness, obliged me to be ever on the alert, and to be repeatedly visiting their "quarters" at all hours, both by night and day.

Whilst thus going my rounds one night, during the middle watch-after having, amongst the attendants of the Emirs, discovered two delinquents and secured their lighted pipes, which were immediately thrown overboard, and confiscated, as an offering to a cooler element than that which they had previously contained-as I was next prying about with a lantern, in search of further prey, a low, plaintive, and indistinct groan suddenly assailed my car. It proceeded from behind a heap of baggage, around which were sleeping some attendants of the chiefs,

and on peering further into the darkness beyond, I beheld in a corner, stretched on the bare deck, in the midst of a collection of nauseous filth, a poor little negro, apparently in the last agonies of death.

"It was," said a servant of the Emir Hyder, looking up and rubbing his eyes, "only his master's little Ethiopian slave, who had been some time ailing, whom he had believed to be already dead, and whom he meant next morning to throw overboard into the sea." So saying, my informant turned round, and was immediately in the enjoyment of his resumed repose.

Meanwhile I ordered the Egyptian seaman who accompanied me, to take up the poor child, and as its powerless head fell back over his encircling arm, and became exposed to the glare of the lantern, which I had taken from the sailor's hand, by the peculiar" tattooing," or rather ornamental cicatrices, which seared the little fellow's now emaciated cheeks-by his white teeth, filed, as if for cannibal purposes, like the indentations of a saw-by these unmistakeable tokens, I recognised the youthful negro slave whom I had noticed in the caravanserai at Cairo, when the Emirs first arrived. I immediately caused the poor little creature to be carried to my cabin, determined to see what I could do in his behalf.

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Under ordinary circumstances — setting aside the dictates of humanity-the death of a negro child might have been considered as an occurrence of little import; but the peculiar position in which we happened to be placed, imparted a frightful degree of significance to such an event.

Although we carried with us a clean bill of health, it was from a locality over which a dreadful disease had been stalking with the most fearful strides; and should this happen to be a case of plague, where was the contagion now to stop? Crowded up as we were in an infected vessel-bearing along with us the rankling seeds of death-debarred from all assistance, even from access to any port, might not the plague-stricken vessel in which I then found myself shut up, be-like the fabled phantom-ship of old-condemned to wander on the waste of waters, perhaps long after it had ceased to contain a living soul on board!

On the other hand, even should a case of death occur amongst us from any other than this dreaded cause, we had the horrors of a protracted quarantine next staring us in the face. All these facts flashed at the same moment suddenly and spontaneously across my mind, and never did greater inducementexist to the performance of a charitable and philanthropic act.

The surgeon of the vessel was immediately, by my directions, roused up, and summoned to attend. I communicated to him my fears, that if already a corpse, the little negro had died of "Kouba," or the dreaded plague, but that possibly existence had not yet departed, and in which case there might still be some chance of life.

This worthy disciple of Avicenna, with all the stoical indifference of a true Mussulman, and apparently relying implicitly on his belief in predestination, took up the poor infant, as a butcher would handle a slaughtered lamb, and feeling for the dreaded "gavoccioli," pronounced that the boy had certainly not died from the effects of plague, but that apparently severe dysentery, aggravated by neglect, had been the cause of his decease-for that the child was evidently dead.

"But," continued the learned "hakeem," "to prove this to the Sanita,' or Board of Health, at Beyrout, the corpse must be kept; and if favoured by the wind, we may yet arrive at our destination before it is decomposed, and thus save our forty-days quarantine." Notwithstanding the doctor's assurances, I retired to my berth in none of the most pleasant moods of mind, and when sleep at last scaled down my eyelids, “nature's soft nurse," brought with it no repose; for my haunted imagination was then assailed by dreamy visions, more frightful even than those suggested by previous waking fears..

Methought I was in a well-appointed, gallant, English craft, the bright sunshine beamed gladly on the white, expanded sails, and unspotted, polished decks, as we glided smoothly along the clear blue waters of a summer sea: suddenly arose a black, portentous-looking cloud, followed by a fierce, threatening, and scorching blast, which furiously lashed the now dark and crested waters into mountain waves. Staggering, as we were, under a heavy press of sail, our masts were soon carried by the board and we next broached-to, a powerless and disabled wreck. Gathering still nearer, this ominous leaden-coloured cloud appeared, as it approached, to envelope us in its embrace, assuming at the same time the shape of a huge, unearthly vampire, whose wings then fanned with deadly blast the crowded decks, striking down by scores our gallant crew, now scattered about in heaps, consisting of the dying and the dead-whilst those whose swollen and blackening tongues still retained the power of utterance and of speech, vainly shrieked out for water, wherewith to cool the burning torments of the "PLAGUE."

VOL. I. N. S.

I next found myself the sole surviving occupant of this erst gallant bark: I placed myself at the helm; a mountain sea soon struck the vessel's side, curled over the quivering bulwarks, and precipitated me to leeward, amongst the now rotting heaps of foul corruption, which lay strewed about the deck. Unable to regain my feet, stunned, helpless, and prostrate, I rolled powerlessly to and fro, amidst these loathsome relics, so thickly scattered o'er the dismantled wreck, then painfully labouring in the deep trough of the surrounding mountain seas: to steady myself by seizing upon some object, I threw out my hands to the right and left; masses of tangled hair and putrid flesh-the only tangible substances I could lay hold of-then filled, and appeared to mock my grasp.

Succeeding horrors "horrors-horrors! horrors! more than tongue can tell, or ear can listen to”—at length aroused me from a most disturbed and troubled sleep, with cold drops of perspiration starting from my clammy brow.

The flickering rays of the expiring cabin lamp, swayed to and fro by the rolling motion of the ship, appeared to be struggling with the approaching dawn of day, which now glimmered faintly through the skylight overhead; and both combined to throw a dubious and fitful light on the features of the poor negro child, who, extended on a low ottoman, or settee, slowly rocked with the heavy rolling motion of the ship—which, by the complaining timbers, and from the creaking of bulkheads, masts, and spars, I concluded to be then becalmed; which was indeed the

case.

Whilst contemplating this painful sight, I fancied that a low and scarcely audible moan, responded to a slightly perceptible, heaving movement of the poor little Ethiopian's breast. I listened more attentively, it was certainly no illusive sound. I arose and felt the poor child's pulse and heart, but life and motion appeared to be there completely gone. I next placed a small mirror before his lips, and this last test proved my first supposition to be no mistake, that some few but faint remains of life were left; for the hitherto bright surface of the glass became tinged and deadened, though in the smallest possible degree.

Whilst there is life there is hope-I felt an unusual interest in the fate of this poor, abandoned little wretch, cast thus friendless and unprotected, from the far regions of central Africa, upon a wide and unfeeling world.

The ship's doctor had given him up. I resolved now to try what the ship's cook could

X

do; recalling may-be to mind, that Mehemet Ali had once-as the reward of genius and science-promoted to the exalted post of his own" chef de cuisine," the best scholar in the recently established mathematical college at Boulac: hence, reasoning from analogy, I perhaps concluded that a man of science might fill the same responsible situation on board one of the vessels belonging to the fleet of so discriminating a man as the Pasha had thus proved himself to be.

Nor was I mistaken, as appeared by the result of what ensued: for proceeding immediately on deck, I found the lord of the caboose, even at that early hour, at his post. The coppers were already alight, to prepare the matutinal repast of beans and lentils, for the frugal Egyptian crew. I consequently had no difficulty in obtaining from the man of saucepans, a can of boiling water, in which I next infused a little tea, with the slightest dash of good French cognac; both these ingredients forming part of the few private stores I had taken the precaution of bringing with me on board.

With the assistance of my new ally the cook, I poured some of this cordial mixture down my patient's throat, and the experiment was attended with the most instantaneous and successful effects; for the poor little fellow first heaved a deep-drawn sigh, then breathed heavily, and at last languidly opened the lids. of his half-closed, and apparently fast-glazing eyes. A repetition at intervals, of the dose, was continued with the same beneficial results; next, my friend Achmet the cook, slaughtered, at my suggestion, one of the small number of fowls constituting part of the live stock we had on board; and this being converted into broth, effected wonders in the recovery of our little patient, who-to make short of a long story was thus, by the creative genius of the Egyptian cook, enabled in a day or two to make his appearance upon deck.

Ere this, however, took place, I must pause to relate what had previously passed between myself and Emir Hyder, the quondam master of the little negro slave.

The Emir hearing that I had undertaken the doctoring or "cooking" of his "nigger," had-under the conviction that he could not possibly survive-most generously begged my acceptance of him as a gift. When, however, the little fellow, on his appearance on deck, showed every sign of con

valescence, and of a speedy return to health, scruples seemed suddenly to beset the conscience of the worthy Chief, on the score of the religious education my new "protégé" was likely to receive at my hands. The Emir-who was a Christian Maronite, and a good Catholic, acknowledging the supremacy of the successor of St. Peter at Rome-told me he understood that although a Christian, I did not exactly profess his own particular creed; that on attentively and maturely considering over the case, it had occurred to him that the eternal welfare of the little negro, whom he had rescued from heathenism and perdition, might be compromised, if his spiritual education were left to my care, and that, under these circumstances, he begged I would allow him to recal his gift.

"Oh! Highness," was my reply, "it is to me a cause of great grief that it should be out of my power to comply with your request: the little Ethiopian was your slave: but by the laws of my country, from the very moment that, in the height of your generosity, your Highness presented him to me, and that I accepted of so munificent a gift — from that instant the boy became free; he is now under the protection of my sovereign, and it would be contrary to our laws, were I to replace him in the state of bondage from whence he has just emerged.”

"I am sure," continued I, "your Highness would not wish me to incur the displeasure of my most gracious Queen, and the consequent and inevitable disgrace which would ensue from the infringement of our customs and our laws; in such a case, however, your Highness' conscience may be at rest, for on the first opportunity the child shall be baptized - he shall bear the name of Tanta,' in commemoration of your Highness' generosity on board this vessel-and in order to testify how fully I ap preciate your Highness' most liberal act, I beg the acceptance of this little 'souvenir,' which I brought with me from Frangistan.”

So saying, I presented the worthy Emir with a brace of pistols, which he required but little pressing to accept, and I heard no more of any objections or religious scruples, as to the spiritual welfare of his former slave.

Little Tanta became my "Chibouquejee," (pipe-bearer,) and page: we arrived shortly afterwards safely at Beyrout, where I had the satisfaction of restoring the exiled Syrian Chieftains to their families and their mountain homes.

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