DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4020#0147
AND NUBIA.
We were ready to depart, and thought that nothing could delay us. But
our reys and the Jew valet had occasioned us a great deal of hindrance. Inslead
°f declaring at the custom-house a load of thirty ardebs, they had declared no
m°re than four. The custom-house officers easily perceived it upon making a
v&t, insornuch that they slopped the barque, which could not be set at liberty,
but by paying for those to whom the merchandise belonged. We sent for our
reys, who had taken care before-hand to be out of the way. He was too well
known in this place to shew himself. He had the precaution, however, to engage
a pilot who came on board.
All the afternoon passed away in repairing the fault committed by our two
dealers in dates. The director of the custom-house himself came to our barque,
and after some compliments he Ictus know, that he was very sorry to require us
to open some of our coffers. " A report, added he, is spread through the
town, that you have with you abundance of chests full of arms; and I believe
toat, for your security and for mine, thebest way is for you to open some of them."
We found his request reasbnable, and did not hesttate a moment to satisfy him.
We gave him the choice of the chests; he caused two of them to be opened, in
prcsence of the custom-house officers and of the other persons that had attended
nim. He found there only things necessary for our voyage ; and he afterwards
took leave of us in a very civil manner.
H e had no sooner quitted the barque than we departed. We made but
little way, for we run violently a-ground; and after having put the barque
anoat we made to shore on the eastern border of the Nile, at the foot of those
nigh rocks that come quite close to the water.
Thursday, 13th of February.
A s soon as the moon was up, we let sail; and at seven o'clock in the morning
wc arrived before
^Rs schie. A Greek merchant came to ask us passage; but as we had not
umcient room, we refused it to him. Notwithstanding this refusal, he did not
orbear to put aboard his cloaths ; for he had a good understanding with our
eys> who had joined us again. We were enraged at this procedure; and with-
ut further ceremony, we had the baggage of this Greek taken out of the
arque. He did not acquiesce, but had recourse to the caVmakan, who came on
°ard to entreat us to take this man in. We continued resolute, refusmg it,
however, in the most civil manner we could. When he saw that he obtained
^hing by entreaties, he began to talk high ; but getting nothing neither by
at> he came to threats, saying that he would play us some tricks, that would
ake us repent the having resused him. We laughed at him. We were no longer
s^erri. We knew the coast; and so little an ossicer was not capable os inti-
mating us.
13.
At
We were ready to depart, and thought that nothing could delay us. But
our reys and the Jew valet had occasioned us a great deal of hindrance. Inslead
°f declaring at the custom-house a load of thirty ardebs, they had declared no
m°re than four. The custom-house officers easily perceived it upon making a
v&t, insornuch that they slopped the barque, which could not be set at liberty,
but by paying for those to whom the merchandise belonged. We sent for our
reys, who had taken care before-hand to be out of the way. He was too well
known in this place to shew himself. He had the precaution, however, to engage
a pilot who came on board.
All the afternoon passed away in repairing the fault committed by our two
dealers in dates. The director of the custom-house himself came to our barque,
and after some compliments he Ictus know, that he was very sorry to require us
to open some of our coffers. " A report, added he, is spread through the
town, that you have with you abundance of chests full of arms; and I believe
toat, for your security and for mine, thebest way is for you to open some of them."
We found his request reasbnable, and did not hesttate a moment to satisfy him.
We gave him the choice of the chests; he caused two of them to be opened, in
prcsence of the custom-house officers and of the other persons that had attended
nim. He found there only things necessary for our voyage ; and he afterwards
took leave of us in a very civil manner.
H e had no sooner quitted the barque than we departed. We made but
little way, for we run violently a-ground; and after having put the barque
anoat we made to shore on the eastern border of the Nile, at the foot of those
nigh rocks that come quite close to the water.
Thursday, 13th of February.
A s soon as the moon was up, we let sail; and at seven o'clock in the morning
wc arrived before
^Rs schie. A Greek merchant came to ask us passage; but as we had not
umcient room, we refused it to him. Notwithstanding this refusal, he did not
orbear to put aboard his cloaths ; for he had a good understanding with our
eys> who had joined us again. We were enraged at this procedure; and with-
ut further ceremony, we had the baggage of this Greek taken out of the
arque. He did not acquiesce, but had recourse to the caVmakan, who came on
°ard to entreat us to take this man in. We continued resolute, refusmg it,
however, in the most civil manner we could. When he saw that he obtained
^hing by entreaties, he began to talk high ; but getting nothing neither by
at> he came to threats, saying that he would play us some tricks, that would
ake us repent the having resused him. We laughed at him. We were no longer
s^erri. We knew the coast; and so little an ossicer was not capable os inti-
mating us.
13.
At