ABSTRACT
THIS was how it came about. On the afternoon of this notable day, about four hours before sunset, I went into the town to pay some visits, leaving Sheykh Ibrahim asleep in the garden. I first went to see the Frenchmen, about whose health I had heard disquieting reports, which, fortunately, turned out to be exaggerated. Having remained with them for rather more than half an hour, I proceeded to the house of the young artillery officer whose acquaintance I had made throUgh the Sheykh of ~um. While I was sitting there conversing with him, and watching the grotesque antics of a large tame monkey ('antar) which he kept as a pet, I first became conscious of an uneasy sensation in my eye. My host, too, noticed that it appeared inflamed, and bade
one of his servants bring a bowl of iced water that I might bathe it. So far from deriving any benefit from this treatment, however, it rapidly grew worse, so that, on my return to the garden, I was in considerable pain.
