Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v2p1.djvu/478

  Continuing their march towards Grand Cairo, the armies fell in with a French armed vessel and sixteen djerms, conveying wine, spirits, clothing, specie, and a reinforcement of troops to Rahmanié. Finding themselves thus unexpectedly opposed, the French soldiers instantly landed and fought with the Turkish advanced guard, till the arrival of an English detachment; when the survivors, 133 in number, surrendered. The transports and their escort were in the meantime taken by a part of the British flotilla. A number of females accompanying this convoy were immediately claimed by the Capitan Pacha, but he only succeeded in obtaining those of colour; the remainder, being Europeans, were protected by their captors till they could be restored to their husbands. On the 17th General Doyle’s brigade intercepted 550 camels, escorted by 560 troops, the whole of whom were made prisoners.

At ten A.M. on the 23d, the wind suddenly shifted from East to South, and the atmosphere was instantly darkened with a scorching mist. The ground in a short time resembled the floor of a furnace: every thing metallic, as arms, buttons, knives, &c., became burning hot; the poultry exposed to the air, and several camels died; respiration was difficult, and general lassitude prevailed. Happily, as night drew on, the sirocco ceased; for had the heat continued forty-eight hours, the effects would have been dreadful. Seven days afterwards a whirlwind passed the flotilla, beat down a child and a dog on the banks of the river, and brought with it great quantities of corn, stubble, and rubbish.

On the 31st May, Captains Stevenson and Curry waited on the Capitan Pacha by appointment, and after much ceremony were each presented by him with several pieces of rich silk stuff, embroidered with gold in various patterns. On the 5th of the following month the latter officer received a handsome pelisse of camels’ hair lined with rich fur, as a mark of particular distinction, from the Grand Vizier. The armies had by this time advanced beyond Menouf, and were so sickly as to render the establishment of a hospital camp necessary.

