I stifled all expression of these feelings, and endeavoured to divert my attention from them, by observing what presented itself in our voyage. We passed under the Ionian Islands, taking all in their order from Corfu to Cerigo, and I was much struck and delighted with the varied outline of some parts of the Morea, in the distance. We proceeded thence into the Archipelago, and so through an infinity of little islands, the steerage between which is occasionally very intricate and difficult. A cross wind obliged us to put into the port of Rhodes, but our stay there was too short to admit of my seeing much of that beautiful and celebrated island*. The scenery about the port of Rhodes has very con siderable beauty, but not so the rest of the island. From Rhodes we had the wind in our favour and the weather moderate, so that within a few days we could discover the low shores of Egypt in the distance; and I still recollect, with delight, the moment when Pompey's pillar was first pointed out to me as marking the position of Alexandria, where (after passing close in front of the bay of Aboukir, the scene of that famous sea-fight between the French and the English) we came safely to anchor, notwithstanding some trifling difficulties in getting within the harbour. Here a new scene of life opened upon me: the wars that I became engaged in, the events which I witnessed, the sufferings that I underwent, the sources of satisfaction that I found, and, last of all, those long and distant journeys that it was my CHAPTER II. Enlistment in Mahomet Ali's service-OphthalmiaCairo-Feuds between Turkish and Albanian soldiery -Successes against the Mamelukes-Preparations for the War in Arabia-Massacre of the MamelukesAuthor's Marriage-Thieves in the Camp-Fatal mistake there—and consequences-Marching orders under Tossoon Pasha. ON board the vessel which brought me to Alexandria was an Albanian officer, who pressed me over and over again, during the voyage, to enlist in the Pasha of Egypt's service, under his command; an overture which I was at first disposed to decline, till, reflecting that I had neither friends nor acquaintance in that strange country, nor any means of subsistence, it seemed best to avail myself at once of the oppor tunity as it offered, and to engage myself with him, which I accordingly did. So that, after having, at the risk of life, withdrawn myself from one military service, here I was, out of hand, enlisting a volunteer in another ! The means of livelihood at least, however, were thus secured to me from the moment of my setting foot on shore, for this officer took me to his own quarters, and maintained me at his own charge, till such time as I should be regularly attached, and received into the Pasha's pay; for which the order was soon obtained, and (no better post having been held out to me than that of a private soldier) I became one of a small Albanian company, stationed in Alexandria, and commanded by my patron. |