"Cry aloud, thou that settest in the dust, COWPER. 228 CHAP. XVII. Passage to Egypt-Storm-First View of the Coast-Critical Situation-Wonderful Deliverance-Vestiges of Antiquity-Visit the Vicinity of Alexandria-Pass a remarkable Lake-Land near a Market-Avidity of the Natives for Silver and Gold-View of Alexandria-Pompey's Pillar-Site of the Pharos, &c.--Baths-- Statues-UrnsVases-Remarkable Inscription-Cement in an Ancient Building-Sketch of the History of Alexandria-Description of the various Inhabitants-Moors-Arabians Coptes-Jews-Turks- Utility of the Camel and Dromedary-Established Religion-Punctuality in their Devotions— Government. HAVING replenished our stock of water, and procured a good supply of vegetables and fruit, which the inhabitants in general were forward to assist us in getting on board, late in February 1801, we weighed anchor and stood into the Levant, with a large fleet in company, for a still more remote destination. For a short time we were favoured with moderate weather, after which a fresh gale and storm obliged us to lower the towering sails, and exposed the fleet to danger. We continued much dispersed for two days, when it moderated, and the fleet continued its course to the southward, until the beautiful evening of the first of March, when the Castle of Alexandria was discovered, bearing S. E. about four or five leagues; and at eight the next morning, we anchored in the spacious Bay of Aboukir during this short passage, we lost several of our men, by a dangerous fever, and with sympathy committed their bodies to the deep. A comprehensive view of the coast of celebrated Egypt, appeared highly gratify. ing, and tended forcibly to recall its ancient history to remembrance. Soon after our anchoring we experienced tempestuous weather, with a ground swell, which continued U for several days, and prevented any de-, barkation of troops: as soon as the gale permitted, the vessels of easy draught of water, were ordered near the beach to cover the landing, and have troops in rea diness to land. On the seventh, the landing commenced, and on the eighth ef fected. I was ordered on this disembarkation, and my first visit to these interesting coasts, was a very perilous one indeed, we had to approach the shore, in the face of several batteries, and at length reached the beach amidst vollies of shot. Just as the last of the troops had stepped, or jumped out of the boat and were forming, many of them ancle deep in the water, a musket ball passed through my hat, penetrated the periosteum, and grazing the bone, left me instantly senseless in the boat; on recovering my senses, I felt my neck, shoulders and back, bathed in blood, the vessels still bleeding profusely, and so helpless that every effort, even to seat myself, was unavailing. The scene of confusion with which we were sur rounded, was unfriendly to attention, from my comrades in danger; and it was a considerable time before I could get conveyed to medical assistance; on reaching alongside the nearest of several vessels, who were placed on purpose to receive the wounded, and cover the landing, we were severely disappointed; for the surgeon was surrounded with so many cases, claiming instant relief, that they were under the painful necessity of refusing admission to any more. I perhaps felt the least at this answer, as by this time I was nearly exhausted from the continual loss of blood. We soon reached the next vessel, and I was hoisted in, and, after a short waiting, was dressed by the surgeon, who took up the vessels, and said, he hoped it was not a fracture. It was judged dangerous, in my present situation, to remove me to our own ship, which lay at the distance of several miles, and the surgeon kindly had me laid on, his own bed; I found a state of repose very refreshing and comfortable, but just as I had began to be composed and inclined to sleep, the signal was made for, the ship instantly to get under |