6o6 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER
firman between this and Cairo." Ta. " We fliall leave it upon that footing for the prefent, allow me only to fay, I am a fcrvant of the king of England, travelling, by his order, and for my own and my countrymen's information ; that I had rather rifk my life twenty times, than lofe the papers I have left in the defert." Jga. " Go in peace, and eat and fleep. Carry them, fays he, fpeaking to his attendants, to the houfe of the Schourbatchie." Thus ended our firft interview with the Aga, who put us in poflelfion of a very good houfe, and i^ happened to be the very man to whom I was recommended by my correfpondents at Cairo when I was firft here, who had abfolutely forgotten, but foon remembered me, as did many others, but my old friend the Aga had been changed, ^nd was then at Cairo.
We were not long arrived before we received from the Aga about fifty loaves of fine wheat bread, and feveral large diflies of dreft meat. But the fmell of thefe laft no fooner reached me than I fainted upon the floor. I made feveral trials afterwards, with no better fuccefs, for the firft two days, nor could I reconcile myfelf to any fort of food but toafted bread and coflTee. My fervants had none of thefe qualms, for they partook largely and greedily of the Aga's bounty,
I HAD kept the houfe five or fix days after my arrival, during which I correfponded with the Aga only by meftages, and fiom my fervant who had pafled between us he had learned the whole of our adventures. I then went to the caftle for an audience, and intreated the Aga that he would
- procure fix or eight camels to mount my men upon, and
bring
