DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12664#0059
52
INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL,
devotions, my guide led me in a different direc-
tion.
During the time that I had passed in lounging
about Cairo, I had repeatedly been down to Bou-
lac in search of a boat for my intended voyage up
the Nile; and going one Sunday to dine on the
Island of Rhoda with Mr. Trail, a young English-
man who had charge of the palace and garden of
Ibrahim Pacha, I again rode along the bank of
the river for the same purpose. In coming up
from Alexandria I had found the inconveniences of
a large boat, and was looking for one of the small-
est dimensions that could be at all comfortable.
We were crossing over one more than half sunk
in the water, which I remarked to Paul was about
the right size; and while we stopped a moment,
without the least idea that it could be made fit for
use, an Arab came up and whispered to Paul that
he could pump out the water in two hours, and had
only sunk the boat to save it from the officers of
the pacha, who would otherwise take it for the use
of government. Upon this information, I struck a
bargain for the boat, eight men, a rais, and a pi-
lot. The officers of the pacha were on the bank
looking out for boats, and, notwithstanding my
Arab's ingenious contrivance, just when I had
closed my agreement, they came on board and
claimed possession. I refused to give up my right,
and sent to the agent of the consul for an Ameri-
can flag. He could not give me an American, but
sent me an English flag, and I did not hesitate to
INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL,
devotions, my guide led me in a different direc-
tion.
During the time that I had passed in lounging
about Cairo, I had repeatedly been down to Bou-
lac in search of a boat for my intended voyage up
the Nile; and going one Sunday to dine on the
Island of Rhoda with Mr. Trail, a young English-
man who had charge of the palace and garden of
Ibrahim Pacha, I again rode along the bank of
the river for the same purpose. In coming up
from Alexandria I had found the inconveniences of
a large boat, and was looking for one of the small-
est dimensions that could be at all comfortable.
We were crossing over one more than half sunk
in the water, which I remarked to Paul was about
the right size; and while we stopped a moment,
without the least idea that it could be made fit for
use, an Arab came up and whispered to Paul that
he could pump out the water in two hours, and had
only sunk the boat to save it from the officers of
the pacha, who would otherwise take it for the use
of government. Upon this information, I struck a
bargain for the boat, eight men, a rais, and a pi-
lot. The officers of the pacha were on the bank
looking out for boats, and, notwithstanding my
Arab's ingenious contrivance, just when I had
closed my agreement, they came on board and
claimed possession. I refused to give up my right,
and sent to the agent of the consul for an Ameri-
can flag. He could not give me an American, but
sent me an English flag, and I did not hesitate to