DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4794#0082
men of their miserable horses at Marmorice.
The men were mostly Syrians, badly clothed,
many unarmed, and miserably mounted,
with as little discipline among them as a
horde of savages ; and, after all, their num-
ber did not exceed 600 ; yet the depredations
these wretches had perpetrated upon the in-
habitants of the Delta, gave great uneasiness
to the Pacha.
Foua, once before mentioned, having for-
merly been the capital of Egypt, many were
highly desirous of viewing it ; but this place
falls far short of Rosetta ; yet, as the French
had, with their ovens, taught the people how
to bake, the army was here supplied with
good bread. Here the first news of the death
of Mr. Keith, Secretary to Sir Sidney Smith,
arrived, he being upset in a dgerm near
Rosetta. He was an excellent swimmer, but
could not be.restored to life, though taken up
immediately. Mr. Keith, having been con-
cerned in arranging the convention with Ge-
neral Kleber, was w^ell known and respected
by the French army.
A singular circumstance occurred on the
nearer approach of the army towards Rah-
manieh: Colonel Murray, being out with
an advanced guard, saw some strange horse-
men on the banks of the canal, waving: their
swords ; but, proving to be friendly Arabs,
they came forwards and insisted on kissing
his and his brother officers hands, a token
of great respect, but very dangerous, as the
The men were mostly Syrians, badly clothed,
many unarmed, and miserably mounted,
with as little discipline among them as a
horde of savages ; and, after all, their num-
ber did not exceed 600 ; yet the depredations
these wretches had perpetrated upon the in-
habitants of the Delta, gave great uneasiness
to the Pacha.
Foua, once before mentioned, having for-
merly been the capital of Egypt, many were
highly desirous of viewing it ; but this place
falls far short of Rosetta ; yet, as the French
had, with their ovens, taught the people how
to bake, the army was here supplied with
good bread. Here the first news of the death
of Mr. Keith, Secretary to Sir Sidney Smith,
arrived, he being upset in a dgerm near
Rosetta. He was an excellent swimmer, but
could not be.restored to life, though taken up
immediately. Mr. Keith, having been con-
cerned in arranging the convention with Ge-
neral Kleber, was w^ell known and respected
by the French army.
A singular circumstance occurred on the
nearer approach of the army towards Rah-
manieh: Colonel Murray, being out with
an advanced guard, saw some strange horse-
men on the banks of the canal, waving: their
swords ; but, proving to be friendly Arabs,
they came forwards and insisted on kissing
his and his brother officers hands, a token
of great respect, but very dangerous, as the