Pasha Dohud was at this time waging war with the Arabs between the Euphrates and the Tigris, and I was sent, at the request of the minister, to Hilla, where I had the opportunity of seeing the ruins of ancient Babylon. On the road, between Bagdad and the camp, I beheld a horrid spectacle namely, a pyramid of some hundreds of the heads of Arab rebels. I had only followed the expedition from Hilla to Sugeshuck ( Schuka-Shu ), when the Pasha ordered me, by a Tartar express, to return to Bagdad. The same messenger brought me a letter from my companion, from which I learned that a princess of the Pasha's had been delivered of a deformed child, where indeed no surgical assistance was required, but he had seized the opportunity to send for me, under the pretext of consulting me about the state of the patient ; while his real motive was, to draw me out of my disagreeable situation. I wrote to him, stating that in this campaign we were feeding on sand rather than on bread, which made such an impression on his feelings that he caused me to be recalled. On my return, I had only the Tartar and one servant with me. By the Pasha's orders, we made forced marches, changed horses, crossed the Tigris, and arrived one evening very late at a small town named Mumilla, situated on the left bank of that river. There I met with the inspector of the provisions for the army, who was afflicted with an inflammation of the eyes, and requested my medical assistance. I bled him, and prepared a collyrium of acetate of lead, laud. liqu. Sydenh., camphor, and mucilage of quinceseeds, which caused a burning pain at the commencement, but effected in the meanwhile a visible amelioration. In his joy for the happy result, he ordered a sheep to be killed as an offering ( kurban ), and accompanied the feast with musicians and dancers, and he made me a present of fifty piastres in small Para pieces. Fatigued as we were, we wished rather to rest ourselves, than to be amused, and accordingly dismissed the assembled people, a proceeding which we thought excusable, and then continued our journey. At our request, an Agoo ( guide) on horseback was ordered to lead us through the desert. Accordingly, we started at
