DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11636#0407
AND LOWER EGYPT. 373
On returning to my lodging at Rossetta, M. For-
neti shewed me a letter which he had just received
from the Jew drogman at Aboukir. He informed
ns that, at the moment of the embarkation of the
little pyramid, the garrison of the castle had op-
posed it. M. Forneti went immediately to the
Aga of Rossetta, who had also the command of
Aboukir; and he had obtained, not without a
great many difficulties, an order that the pyramid
should be allowed to depart. That officer had been
already informed of the affair before M. Forneti
mentioned it to him. He pretended that the peo-
ple with whom we had bargained for the purchase
of the marble had not a right to sell it; and that
to him alone we ought to have made application.
This gave me to understand that I must lay my
account with paying for it twice over. The Aga
added, that he had been assured that the little
pyramid was quite full of gold. In consequence
of this idea he gave orders, that immediately upon
the arrival of the pyramid at Rossetta, it should be
brought to him first, in order that he might exa-
mine it, and see himself the gold which it con-
tained. If he should not discover any, he con-
sented to sell it to us.
The ignorant Aga did not confine himself to
these precautions ; he secretly sent for the janisary
who had accompanied us to Aboukir, to learn of
him, if there was not concealed gold in the piece
of
On returning to my lodging at Rossetta, M. For-
neti shewed me a letter which he had just received
from the Jew drogman at Aboukir. He informed
ns that, at the moment of the embarkation of the
little pyramid, the garrison of the castle had op-
posed it. M. Forneti went immediately to the
Aga of Rossetta, who had also the command of
Aboukir; and he had obtained, not without a
great many difficulties, an order that the pyramid
should be allowed to depart. That officer had been
already informed of the affair before M. Forneti
mentioned it to him. He pretended that the peo-
ple with whom we had bargained for the purchase
of the marble had not a right to sell it; and that
to him alone we ought to have made application.
This gave me to understand that I must lay my
account with paying for it twice over. The Aga
added, that he had been assured that the little
pyramid was quite full of gold. In consequence
of this idea he gave orders, that immediately upon
the arrival of the pyramid at Rossetta, it should be
brought to him first, in order that he might exa-
mine it, and see himself the gold which it con-
tained. If he should not discover any, he con-
sented to sell it to us.
The ignorant Aga did not confine himself to
these precautions ; he secretly sent for the janisary
who had accompanied us to Aboukir, to learn of
him, if there was not concealed gold in the piece
of