1798
Themirage—SkirmisheswiththeArabs—MistakeofGeneralDesaix'sdivision—Wretchednessofarichsheik—CombatbeneaththeGeneral'swindow—TheflotillaontheNile—Itsdistressanddanger—ThebattleofChebreisse—DefeatoftheMamelukes—Bonaparte'sreceptionofme—LettertoLouisBonaparte—SuccessoftheFrencharmy— TriumphalentranceintoCairo—CivilandmilitaryorganisationofCairo—Bonaparte'slettertohisbrotherJoseph—Planofcolonisation.
'hthemirageeverymomentpresentedtotheeyewidesheetsofwater, while, asweadvanced, , whichatadistanceappeartobesurroundedwithwater, are, onanearerapproach, discoveredtobesituatedonheights, mostlyartificial, ; anditisthemoretreacherous, inasmuchasitpresentstotheeyetheperfectrepresentationofwater, , afogrisingfromtheearthobscuresthelight, ; and, fromtheobservationsofthelearnedMonge, itappearsthatthemiragewillbefoundinalmosteverycountrysituatedbetweenthetropicswherethelocalcircumstancesaresimilar.
, evenonthisfirstmarch, , .
, underfeebleescort, almostsleepingonourhorses, , , who, formingtheadvancedguardofthearmy, mistookusforapartyoftheenemy, "Quivive?" ofDesaix'sadvancedposts.
, andlookedwellenoughoutside, , , andhavingsomewhatwonhisconfidence, heaskedhim, throughthemediumoftheinterpreter, why, beingineasycircumstances, hethusdeprivedhimselfofallcomfort."Someyearsago," repliedthesheik, ", , andinconsequenceIwasill-treated, , andIshallbuynofurnitureformyhouse." —.