'A voyage from England to India, in the year 1754, and an historical narrative of the operations of the squadron and army in India, under the command of Vice-Admiral Watson and Colonel Clive, in the years 1755, 1756, 1757 ... Also a journey from Persia to England by an unusual route. With an appendix, containing an account of the diseases prevalent in Admiral Watson's squadron, etc.' [‎356] (407/562)

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the Bajha to grant us an efcort, and that we may be permitted to make the
beft of our way to Bir in the beginning of the night. Our Jra undertook
the commiffion with reludance, but we pofitively infifted upon his doino- ir
A little after noon, our Jga was fent for by the Kahier: We took it & for
granted that his intention in fending for him was to deliver to him the Bafha\
permiflion for our going forwards, and we made ourfelves not a little happy
at the thoughts of it; but at his return, we had the mortification to learn
that he was fent for to prefent the Kahier''s compliments to the Englijh gentle
men, and to defire the favour of them to fpare one of their 7^?/ Rev an s
for the ufe of a fick Cadi. The Jga, without waiting for an anfwer from
us, replied, " All applications of that fort would be in vain, becaufe one
of the two Takht Revans was, and had been for fome time, totally criven up
to the lervice of their fick European fervants; therefore, but one Remained
for the relief of the five gentlemen, who were not themfelves in the beft
ftate of health, and moreover were quite unaccuftomed to ride in the
fun." The Kahier feeing the great impropriety of the meflage, thoueht fit
to drop it. &
Our Jga did not neglefl; this favourable opportunity of talkino- to the
rmmiter about our proceeding immediately to Aleppo. He fet before him
in the Itrongeft light the neceflity we were under of getting to Scanderoon
as loon as poffible, and begged his intereft with the Bajha to permit us to
depart with a proper efcort for Aleppo \ making it plainly appear to him,
by that means we fhould fave a great deal of what otherwife would be loft
time : for he obferved, if allowed to proceed by ourfelves, we could with
g . rea p ^ a ' e ^ in one ftage (being only eight hours journey) which
the Bajha with his numerous retinue would make two of at leaft ; and the
Zijri 7*1 ? 0m Bir to Jle PP 0 i would tak e us only three days, whereas
Abdallah Bajha (exclufive of the time he continued at Bir) could not per-
torm u m lefs than four. In anfwer to all this, the Kahier ftarted many
object Jons ; the principal were, the roads being infefted with robbers, and
the ratal conlequences that might enfue fliould we chance to be attacked by
them. He defired the Aga however to call upon him again in the even
ing, by which time, he told him, he fliould be able to acquaint him more
fully with the Bajha\ fentiments.
.Jf rlY l r the we hurried the J g a awa y' a ncl by fix he returned
with a pofitive refufal from the Bajha v who pleaded in excufe for his non-
Compliance with our requeft, that the roads were full of deferters from the
bapa ol Urfa s foldiery, who having quarrelled with their mafter had turned
u/'t-K ? r:5 ' a " r ir^r ie himfelf in confequence of their mutiny, had
withdrawn hirnfelf from Urfa, where he apprehended his life to be in danger,
nn \ • renre . t0 as a of fafety. He added, that we were
e r 118 c 0 ; Vn lm " 1 ^ iate protedion by a very particular recommenda
tion from Solyman Bajha, and therefore that he was anfwerable for all the
ill