On reaching Damanhour our headquarters were established at the residence of a sheik.  The house had been new whitened, and looked well enough outside, but the interior was inconceivably wretched.  Every domestic utensil was broken, and the only seats were a few dirty tattered mats.  Bonaparte knew that the sheik was rich, and having somewhat won his confidence, he asked him, through the medium of the interpreter, why, being in easy circumstances, he thus deprived himself of all comfort.  “Some years ago,” replied the sheik, “I repaired and furnished my house.  When this became known at Cairo a demand was made upon me for money, because it was said my expenses proved me to be rich.  I refused to pay the money, and in consequence I was ill-treated, and at length forced to pay it.  From that time I have allowed myself only the bare necessaries of life, and I shall buy no furniture for my house.”  The old man was lame in consequence of the treatment he had suffered.  Woe to him who in this country is suspected of having a competency—­a hundred spies are always ready to denounce him.  The appearance of poverty is the only security against the rapine of power and the cupidity of barbarism.

A little troop of Arabs on horseback assailed our headquarters.  Bonaparte, who was at the window of the sheik’s house, indignant at this insolence, turned to one of his aides de camp, who happened to be on duty, and said, “Croisier, take a few guides and drive those fellows away!” In an instant Croisier was in the plain with fifteen guides.  A little skirmish ensued, and we looked on from the window.  In the movement and in the attack of Croisier and his party there was a sort of hesitation which the General-in-Chief could not comprehend.  “Forward, I say!  Charge!” he exclaimed from the window, as if he could have been heard.  Our horsemen seemed to fall back as the Arabs returned to the attack; and after a little contest, maintained with tolerable spirit, the Arabs retired without loss, and without being molested in their retreat.  Bonaparte could no longer repress his rage; and when Croisier returned he experienced such a harsh reception that the poor fellow withdrew deeply mortified and distressed.  Bonaparte desired me to follow him and say something to console him:  but all was in vain.  “I cannot survive this,” he said.  “I will sacrifice my life on the first occasion that offers itself.  I will not live dishonoured.”  The word coward had escaped the General’s lips.  Poor Croisier died at Saint Jean d’Acre.

On the 10th of July our headquarters were established at Rahmahanie’h, where they remained during the 11th and 12th.  At this place commences the canal which was cut by Alexander to convey water to his new city; and to facilitate commercial intercourse between Europe and the East.

The flotilla, commanded by the brave chief of division Perree, had just arrived from Rosette.  Perree was on board the xebec ‘Cerf’.