No. 14.

See p. 183.

On the 10th, at 9 a.m., Lieutenant Duval embarked on board a three-masted, lateen-rigged Scanderoon boat, laden with beans, and armed with two swivels. On the 11th, at 4 p.m., he lost sight of the fleet, and steered north-east, passing within a mile and a half of the Swiftsure and her prize, the Fortune, corvette. On the 16th, at 5 p.m., the boat anchored within three-quarters of a mile of Scanderoon ; and saluted the town (a little paltry place, in the midst of a swamp) with five swivels, but was not answered. This, and the non-appearance of any colours, raised a suspicion that the French party prevailed in the town. At length a boat came off, having on board a Turk, who called himself captain of the port. At Lieutenant Duval's request the colours were hoisted : he then went on shore, saw the governor in his mud-house, delighted him with the account of the action, and obtained his promise to furnish guards for the journey to Aleppo. On the 18th, at 5 a.m., Lieutenant Duval, having, the preceding day, sent his eight men to Cyprus, for the English consul to forward them to Naples, and having procured for himself an Arab dress and a servant, and been furnished by the governor with the two promised guards, set off on his journey. At 4 p.m. the party arrived at Aleppo. It took until the 27th, to make the necessary preparations for crossing the desert. At noon on that day the cavalcade, consisting of 24 Arabs, 19 camels, and a horse for Mr. Duval, quitted Aleppo. At noon on the 4th of September, after undergoing the usual fatigue of a journey across the desert, Lieutenant Duval and his escort arrived at Juba, a small town situated on the Euphrates. On the 7th, at 2 p.m., he reached Bagdad. On the next day, the bashaw, who was highly pleased with the news of the defeat sustained by the French, requested Lieutenant Duval to wait upon him, dressed in his uniform. He did so ; and, passing an anteroom filled with guards and attendants, found the bashaw seated in state, on a very rich cushion, with a minister on each side of him. The floor of the apartment was covered with a rich carpet, and the walls and pillars hung with mirrors of various hues, the reflection from which gave to the room a very splendid appearance. The bashaw then ordered two attendants to clothe Lieutenant Duval with a handsome pelisse ; and, pointing to a boat riding in the Tigris, asked him if she would answer his purpose. The lieutenant made a suitable reply, and departed. On passing through the streets, he was greeted with "God save and prosper the English." On the 9th Lieutenant Duval, with a proper escort of servants and guards, embarked in the governor's boat ; and, on the 19th, landed on the west side of the river, within four miles of Bassorah. Shortly afterwards the lieutenant got on board the Fly packet, and on the 21st of October arrived in safety at Bombay.

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