DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5295#0159
126 TRAVELS IN EGYPT, NUBIA,
The vice-consul, a native of Damietta, about twenty
years old, who had succeeded to the appointment on the
death of his father, a few days before my arrival, soon made
his appearance in the costume of the country ; which, in
consideration of the scarlet coat, epaulet, and sword worn
by the English vice-consuls in the East, he was about to
abandon. I was the second Englishman he had received
since his appointment, and he was anxious to impress me
with an idea of his importance, and that the English were
treated with more respect than any other nation, from his
influence; which, however, I was inclined to think arose
from a far more weighty reason; the firmness which the Bri-
tish consul-general Misset had always shown in his conduct
to the Turkish rulers; an instance of which I shall here give.
Some time ago a contribution had been levied on the inha-
bitants of Damietta, and the aga wished to subject the
British vice-consul of that day to it, who being a native of
Egypt, he supposed was not exempt. The vice-consul, how-
ever, pleaded his prerogative, which was not allowed; and
the aga proceeding to extremities, was about to inflict a cor-
poral punishment on him, the usual way of extorting pay-
ment when refused. This, however, by the interposition of
friends, who agreed to pay what the aga demanded, did not
take place. A complaint being made to Colonel Misset, he
ordered the British flag to be struck at Damietta, and de-
The vice-consul, a native of Damietta, about twenty
years old, who had succeeded to the appointment on the
death of his father, a few days before my arrival, soon made
his appearance in the costume of the country ; which, in
consideration of the scarlet coat, epaulet, and sword worn
by the English vice-consuls in the East, he was about to
abandon. I was the second Englishman he had received
since his appointment, and he was anxious to impress me
with an idea of his importance, and that the English were
treated with more respect than any other nation, from his
influence; which, however, I was inclined to think arose
from a far more weighty reason; the firmness which the Bri-
tish consul-general Misset had always shown in his conduct
to the Turkish rulers; an instance of which I shall here give.
Some time ago a contribution had been levied on the inha-
bitants of Damietta, and the aga wished to subject the
British vice-consul of that day to it, who being a native of
Egypt, he supposed was not exempt. The vice-consul, how-
ever, pleaded his prerogative, which was not allowed; and
the aga proceeding to extremities, was about to inflict a cor-
poral punishment on him, the usual way of extorting pay-
ment when refused. This, however, by the interposition of
friends, who agreed to pay what the aga demanded, did not
take place. A complaint being made to Colonel Misset, he
ordered the British flag to be struck at Damietta, and de-