As it was, the eagerness with which I pursued
my rambles among the wonders of Egypt was sharpened and increased
by the sting of the fear of death. Thus my account of the matter
plainly conveys an impression that I remained at Cairo without
losing my cheerfulness and buoyancy of spirits. And this is the
truth, but it is also true, as I have freely confessed, that my
sense of danger during the whole period was lively and continuous.
{31} Anglice for "je le sais." These answers of mine, as given
above, are not meant as specimens of mere French, but of that fine,
terse, nervous, Continental English with which I and my compatriots
make our way through Europe. This language, by-the-bye, is one
possessing great force and energy, and is not without its
literature, a literature of the very highest order. Where will you
find more sturdy specimens of downright, honest, and noble English
than in the Duke of Wellington's "French" despatches?
{32} The import of the word "compromised," when used in reference
to contagion, is explained on page 18.
{33} It is said, that when a Mussulman finds himself attacked by
the plague he goes and takes a bath. The couches on which the
bathers recline would carry infection, according to the notions of
the Europeans. Whenever, therefore, I took the bath at Cairo
(except the first time of my doing so) I avoided that part of the
luxury which consists in being "put up to dry" upon a kind of bed.
{34} Mehemet Ali invited the Mamelukes to a feast, and murdered
them whilst preparing to enter the banquet hall.
{35} It is not strictly lawful to sell WHITE slaves to a
Christian.
{36} The difficulty was occasioned by the immense exertions which
the Pasha was making to collect camels for military purposes.
{37} Herodotus, in an after age, stood by with his note-book, and
got, as he thought, the exact returns of all the rations served
out.
{38} See Milman's "History of the Jews," first edition.
{39} This is an appellation not implying blame, but merit; the
"lies" which it purports to affiliate are feints and cunning
stratagems, rather than the baser kind of falsehoods. The
expression, in short, has nearly the same meaning as the English
word "Yorkshireman."
{40} The 29th of April.
{41} These are the names given by the Prophet to certain chapters
of the Koran.
{43} It was after the interview which I am talking of, and not
from the Jews themselves, that I learnt this fact.
{44} An enterprising American traveller, Mr. Everett, lately
conceived the bold project of penetrating to the University of
Oxford, and this notwithstanding that he had been in his infancy
(they begin very young those Americans) an Unitarian preacher.
Having a notion, it seems, that the ambassadorial character would
protect him from insult, he adopted the stratagem of procuring
credentials from his Government as Minister Plenipotentiary at the
Court of her Britannic Majesty; he also wore the exact costume of a
Trinitarian. But all his contrivances were vain; Oxford disdained,
and rejected, and insulted him (not because he represented a
swindling community, but) because that his infantine sermons were
strictly remembered against him; the enterprise failed.
{45} The rose-trees which I saw were all of the kind we call
"damask"; they grow to an immense height and size.
{46} A dragoman never interprets in terms the courteous language
of the East.
{47} A title signifying transcender or conqueror of Satalieh.
{48} Spelt "Attalia" and sometimes "Adalia" in English books and
maps.
{49} While Lady Hester Stanhope lived, although numbers visited
the convent, she almost invariably refused admittance to strangers.
She assigned as a reason the use which M. de Lamartine had made of
his interview. Mrs. T., who passed some weeks at Djouni, told me,
that when Lady Hester read his account of this interview, she
exclaimed, "It is all false; we did not converse together for more
than five minutes; but no matter, no traveller hereafter shall
betray or forge my conversation." The author of "Eothen," however,
was her guest, and has given us an interesting account of his visit
in his brilliant volume.
*** END OF EOTHEN by A. W. Kinglake ***
