DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5295#0103
HOLY LAND, AND CYPRUS. 75
stroying the petty chiefs of the country, thejr had armed
five or six thousand blacks; that one of their beys had been
able to cast cannon; and that amongst the Mamelouks there
were eight English and ten French deserters.
The Greek, who at first pretended to be a Turk, took
me aside, showed me the sign of the cross on his arm, and,
by way of exciting my compassion, broke out, in bad English,
in execration of the Turks.
After waiting a short time in the caravansera, the son of
the cashief came in, attended by a number of half-clothed
attendants, squatted himself down in one corner of the room,
took me by the hand, and welcomed me. On receiving his
father's letter, he got up, ran out to have it read by the
imam, and "returned presently, offering me every thing I
wished. He was about to order food to be brought; but
being told I should not eat it, begged me to return to my
boat, and in the evening visit him again.
On arriving at my boat, I found he had sent me a kid
and a bowl of bread, in the centre of which was the preserve
of dates before mentioned; for which I returned him a pre-
sent of a gold ring of trifling value. In the evening I went
on shore; and the young cashief, rather better dressed than
in the morning, having the addition of a sword by his side
and my ring on his thumb, received me in the open air with
an affectation of manly dignity, seated himself on the ground,
l 2
stroying the petty chiefs of the country, thejr had armed
five or six thousand blacks; that one of their beys had been
able to cast cannon; and that amongst the Mamelouks there
were eight English and ten French deserters.
The Greek, who at first pretended to be a Turk, took
me aside, showed me the sign of the cross on his arm, and,
by way of exciting my compassion, broke out, in bad English,
in execration of the Turks.
After waiting a short time in the caravansera, the son of
the cashief came in, attended by a number of half-clothed
attendants, squatted himself down in one corner of the room,
took me by the hand, and welcomed me. On receiving his
father's letter, he got up, ran out to have it read by the
imam, and "returned presently, offering me every thing I
wished. He was about to order food to be brought; but
being told I should not eat it, begged me to return to my
boat, and in the evening visit him again.
On arriving at my boat, I found he had sent me a kid
and a bowl of bread, in the centre of which was the preserve
of dates before mentioned; for which I returned him a pre-
sent of a gold ring of trifling value. In the evening I went
on shore; and the young cashief, rather better dressed than
in the morning, having the addition of a sword by his side
and my ring on his thumb, received me in the open air with
an affectation of manly dignity, seated himself on the ground,
l 2