On the 9th of April, I sent Franke and Ibrahim
Aga to Ben Naga, with stone-saws; hammers, and
ropes, to bring the great altar hither. I myself rode
with Jussuf to Gabushi^, partly to return the visit of
Osman Bey— whose intention had been to give a day
of rest in our neighbourhood — ^partly to take advan-
tage of the presence of the respected Sheikh Ahmed,
through whom I hoped to obtain barks for the trans^
portation of our things across the river, and camels for
our desert journey. The army had, however, already
proceeded, and had passed the next places. I there-
fore rode sharply on with Jussuf, and soon came up
with the 400 Arnauts, forming the rear guard. They
could not, however, inform us how far Osman Bey was
in advance. The Amauts are the most feared of all
the ^military ; as the rudest and most cruel of all,
who are at the same time the best used by their
leaders, as they are the only volunteers and foreign
mercenaries. Some months ago, they were sent by
Mahommed Ali, under a peculiarly dreaded oflScer,
to the deceased Ahmed Pasha, with the command, as
it was worded, to bring the Pasha alive or dead to
Cairo. His sudden death, however, naturally put
a period to their errand. That ofBc^ is named
Omar Aga, but is well-known throughout the coun-
try under the less flattering sobriquet of Tomas Aga
(commandant cochon)^ once bestowed on him by
Ibrahim Pasha, and which he has since considered
it an honour to bear ! His own servants so called



1



218 LETTERS FROM EGYPT.
him, when we came up with his horses and baggage,
and asked for their owner.
