"As I passed one of the conduits which convey water to the city, I heard
a trickling noise; and, upon examination, I found that the cook of the
water-spout was half turned, so that the water was running out. I turned
it back to its proper place, thought it had been left unturned by
accident, and walked on; but I had not proceeded far before I came to
another spout, and another, which were in the same condition. I was
convinced that this could not be the effect merely of accident, and
suspected that some ill-intentioned persons designed to let out and waste
the water of the city, that there might be none to extinguish any fire
that should break out in the course of the night.
"I stood still for a few moments, to consider how it would be most
prudent to act. It would be impossible for me to run to all parts of the
city, that I might stop the pipes that were running to waste. I first
thought of wakening the watch and the firemen, who were most of them
slumbering at their stations; but I reflected that they were perhaps not
to be trusted, and that they were in a confederacy with the incendiaries,
otherwise they would certainly before this hour have observed and stopped
the running of the sewers in their neighbourhood. I determined to waken
a rich merchant, called Damat Zade, who lived near me, and who had a
number of slaves whom he could send to different parts of the city, to
prevent mischief and give notice to the inhabitants of their danger.
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