memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v2-第19部分

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could　not　be　procured　very　easily。

It　has　been　endeavoured　to　represent　the　capture　of　Alexandria；　which
surrendered　after　a　few　hours；　as　a　brilliant　exploit。　　The　General…in…
Chief　himself　wrote　that　the　city　had　been　taken　after　a　few　discharges
of　cannon；　the　walls；　badly　fortified；　were　soon　scaled。　　Alexandria　was
not　delivered　up　to　pillage；　as　has　been　asserted；　and　often　repeated。
This　would　have　been　a　most　impolitic　mode　of　commencing　the　conquest　of
Egypt；　which　had　no　strong　places　requiring　to　be　intimidated　by　a　great
example。

Bonaparte；　with　some　others；　entered　the　city　by　a　narrow　street　which
scarcely　allowed　two　persons　to　walk　abreast；　I　was　with　him。　　We　were
stopped　by　some　musket…shots　fired　from　a　low　window　by　a　man　and　a
woman。　　They　repeated　their　fire　several　times。　　The　guides　who　preceded
their　General　kept　up　a　heavy　fire　on　the　window。　　The　man　and　woman　fell
dead；　and　we　passed　on　in　safety；　for　the　place　had　surrendered。

Bonaparte　employed　the　six　days　during　which　he　remained　in　Alexandria　in
establishing　order　in　the　city　and　province；　with　that　activity　and
superior　talent　which　I　could　never　sufficiently　admire；　and　in　directing
the　march　of　the　army　across　the　province　of　Bohahire'h。　　He　sent　Desaix
with　4500　infantry　and　60　cavalry　to　Beda；　on　the　road　to　Damanhour。
This　general　was　the　first　to　experience　the　privations　and　sufferings
which　the　whole　army　had　soon　to　endure。　　His　great　mind；　his　attachment
to　Bonaparte；　seemed　for　a　moment　about　to　yield　to　the　obstacles　which
presented　themselves。　　On　the　15th　of　July　he　wrote　from　Bohahire'h　as
follows：　〃I　beseech　you　do　not　let　us　stop　longer　in　this　position。　　My
men　are　discouraged　and　murmur。　　Make　us　advance　or　fall　back　without
delay。　　The　villages　consist　merely　of　huts；　absolutely　without
resources。〃

In　these　immense　plains；　scorched　by　the　vertical　rays　of　a　burning　sun；
water；　everywhere　else　so　common；　becomes　an　object　of　contest。　　The
wells　and　springs；　those　secret　treasures　of　the　desert；　are　carefully
concealed　from　the　travellers；　and　frequently；　after　our　most　oppressive
marches；　nothing　could　be　found　to　allay　the　urgent　cravings　of　thirst
but　a　little　brackish　water　of　the　most　disgusting　description。

　　　　　＇Some　idea　of　the　misery　endured　by　the　French　troops　on　this
　　　　　occasion　may　be　gathered　from　the　following　description　is
　　　　　Napoleon's　Memoirs；　dictated　at　St。　Helena：

　　　　　〃As　the　Hebrews　wandering　in　the　wilderness　complained；　and　angrily
　　　　　asked　Moses　for　the　onions　and　flesh…pots　of　Egypt；　the　French
　　　　　soldiers　constantly　regretted　the　luxuries　of　Italy。　　In　vain　were
　　　　　they　assured　that　the　country　was　the　most　fertile　in　the　world；
　　　　　that　it　was　even　superior　to　Lombard；　how　were　they　to　be　persuaded
　　　　　of　this　when　they　could　get　neither　bread　nor　wine？　　　We　encamped　on
　　　　　immense　quantities　of　wheat；　but　there　was　neither　mill　nor　oven　in
　　　　　the　country。　　The　biscuit　brought　from　Alexandria　had　long　been
　　　　　exhausted；　the　soldiers　were　even　reduced　to　bruise　the　wheat
　　　　　between　two　stones　and　to　make　cake　which　they　baked　under　the
　　　　　ashes。　　Many　parched　the　wheat　in　a　pan；　after　which　they　boiled　it。
　　　　　This　was　the　best　way　to　use　the　grain；　but；　after　all；　it　was　not
　　　　　bread。　　The　apprehensions　of　the　soldiers　increased　daily；　and　rose
　　　　　to　such　a　pitch　that　a　great　number　of　them　said　there　was　no　great
　　　　　city　of　calm；　and　that　the　place　bring　that　name　was；　like
　　　　　Damanhour；　a　vast　assemblage　of　mere　huts；　destitute　of　everything
　　　　　that　could　render　life　comfortable　or　agreeable。　　To　such　a
　　　　　melancholy　state　of　mind　had　they　brought　themselves　that　two
　　　　　dragoons　threw　themselves；　completely　clothed；　into　the　Nile；　where
　　　　　they　were　drowned。　　It　is　nevertheless　true　that；　though　there　was
　　　　　neither　bread　nor　wine；　the　resources　which　were　procured　with
　　　　　wheat；　lentils；　meat；　and　sometimes　pigeons；　furnished　the　army　with
　　　　　food　of　some　kind。　　But　the　evil　was；　in　the　ferment　of　the　mind。
　　　　　The　officers　complained　more　loudly　than　the　soldiers；　because　the
　　　　　comparison　was　proportionately　more　disadvantageous　to　them。　　In
　　　　　Egypt　they　found　neither　the　quarters；　the　good　table；　nor　the
　　　　　luxury　of　Italy。　　The　General…in…Chief；　wishing　to　set　an　example；
　　　　　tried　to　bivouac　in　the　midst　of　the　army；　and　in　the　least
　　　　　commodious　spots。　　No　one　had　either　tent　or　provisions；　the　dinner
　　　　　of　Napoleon　and　his　staff　consisted　of　a　dish　of　lentils。　　The
　　　　　soldiers　passed　the　evenings　in　political　conversations；　arguments；
　　　　　and　complaints。　　'For　what　purpose　are　we　come　here？'　said　some　of
　　　　　them；　'the　Directory　has　transported　us。'　'Caffarelli；'　said　others；
　　　　　'is　the　agent　that　has　been　made　use　of　to　deceive　the　General…in…
　　　　　Chief。'　　Many　of　them；　having　observed　that　wherever　there　were
　　　　　vestiges　of　antiquity　they　were　carefully　searched；　vented　their
　　　　　spite　in　invective　against　the　savants；　or　scientific　men；　who；　they
　　　　　said；　had　started　the　idea　of　she　expedition　to　order　to　make　these
　　　　　searches。　　Jests　were　showered　upon　them；　even　in　their　presence。
　　　　　The　men　called　an　ass　a　savant；　and　said　of　Caffarelli　Dufalga；
　　　　　alluding　to　his　wooden　leg；　'He　laughs　at　all　these　troubles；　he　has
　　　　　one　foot　to　France。'〃




CHAPTER　XIV。

1798。

　　　　　The　mirageSkirmishes　with　the　ArabsMistake　of　General　Desaix's
　　　　　divisionWretchedness　of　a　rich　sheikCombat　beneath　the　General's
　　　　　windowThe　flotilla　on　the　NileIts　distress　and　dangerThe
　　　　　battle　of　ChebreisseDefeat　of　the　MamelukesBonaparte's　reception
　　　　　of　meLetter　to　Louis　BonaparteSuccess　of　the　French　army
　　　　　Triumphal　entrance　into　CairoCivil　and　military　organisation　of
　　　　　CairoBonaparte's　letter　to　his　brother　JosephPlan　of
　　　　　colonisation。

On　the　7th　of　July　General　Bonaparte　left　Alexandria　for　Damanhour。　　In
the　vast　plains　of　Bohahire'h　the　mirage　every　moment　presented　to　the
eye　wide　sheets　of　water；　while；　as　we　advanced；　we　found　nothing　but
barren　ground　full　of　deep　cracks。　　Villages；　which　at　a　distance　appear
to　be　surrounded　with　water；　are；　on　a　nearer　approach；　discovered　to　be
situated　on　heights；　mostly　artificial；　by　which　they　are　raised　above
the　inundations　of　the　Nile。　　This　illusion　continually　recurs；　and　it　is
the　more　treacherous；　inasmuch　as　it　presents　to　the　eye　the　perfect
representation　of　water；　at　the　time　when　the　want　of　that　article　is
most　felt。　　This　mirage　is　so　considerable　in　the　plain　of　Pelusium　that
shortly　after　sunrise　no　object　is　recognisable。　　The　same　phenomenon　has
been　observed　in　other　countries。　　Quintus　Curtius　says　that　in　the
deserts　of　Sogdiana；　a　fog　rising　from　the　earth　obscures　the　light；　and
the　surrounding　country　seems　like　a　vast　sea。　　The　cause　of　this
singular　illusion　is　now　fully　explained；　and；　from　the　observations　of
the　learned　Monge；　it　appears　that　the　mirage　will　be　found　in　almost
every　country　situated　between　the　tropics　where　the　local　circumstances
are　similar。

The　Arabs　harassed　the　army　without　intermission。　　The　few　wells　met　with
in　the　desert　were　either　filled　up　or　the　water　was　rendered　unfit　for
use。　　The　intolerable　thirst　with　which　the　troops　were　tormented；　even
on　this　first　march；　was　but　ill　allayed　by　brackish　and　unwholesome
water。　　The　army　crossed　the　desert　with　the　rapidity　of　lightning；
scarcely　tasting　a　drop　of　water。　　The　sufferings　of　the　troops　were
frequently　expressed　by　discouraging　murmurs。

On　the　first　night　a　mistake　occurred　which　might　have　proved　fatal。
We　were　advancing　in　the　dark；　under　feeble　escort；　almost　sleeping　on
our　horses；　when　suddenly　we　were　assailed　by　two　successive　discharges
of　musketry。　　We　aroused　ourselves　and　reconnoitred；　and　to　our　great
satisfaction　discovered　that　the　only　mischief　was　a　alight　wound
received　by　one　of　our　guides。　　Our　assailants　were　the　division　of
General　Desaix；　who；　forming　the　advanced　guard　of　the　army；　mistook　us
for　a　party　of　the　enemy；　and　fired　upon　us。　　It　was　speedily　ascertained
that　the　little　advanced　guard　of　the　headquarters　had　not　heard　the　〃Qui
vive？〃　of　Desaix's　advanced　posts。

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；　be　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　competencya　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　con