This was the first time that Ghareeb had left Beit-Eldden.
He turned his gaze toward the hills of Lebanon, seated on a well-groomed horse.
Despite his young age, he appeared with the poise and presence of a seasoned knight.
He wore a silken keffiyeh on his head, held in place by a Bedouin agal,
and over his silken robe, he had donned a gold-buttoned ceremonial coat (jibdan).
Though still a boy, he rode horses with great skill, like the sons of the princes of Lebanon,
especially the sons of Prince Bishr, whose stables were renowned and admired.
The caravan riders paid special attention to Ghareeb, treating him with extra kindness
In recognition of his youth, beauty, and gentleness.
Whenever they reached a place or village, the attendants would whisper to one another:
"Shall we show this sight or that matter to the young Emir?"
Ghareeb would always respond with a warm smile, kindness, and words of praise.
The caravan continued travelling until evening, when they stayed overnight in one of the villages.
The next morning, they resumed their journey and eventually met Prince Bishr.
They greeted him and kissed his hands, then joined him as the whole group advanced together toward Egypt,
moving swiftly and with purpose.
Their number exceeded a hundred horsemen...
The servants and attendants were many, and people were streaming in from the surrounding villages and towns, lining both sides of the road to catch a glimpse of Prince Bishr, whom they had long heard about.
As for the prince and those with him, they continued on their way until they reached the shore, where they dismounted with their supplies and horses into boats that took them to a village near Damietta. The Kashif (governor) of Damietta sent a messenger to inquire about the reason for the prince's arrival. The prince responded that he had come to pay his respects to the Pasha (Muhammad Ali).
So the Kashif sent word inviting him to stay that night in the village, and enter the port of Damietta the next day. The prince disembarked with his entourage and sons, and the Kashif provided all they needed—food, supplies, and fodder. A feast was prepared for them.
After they had eaten and taken a rest, they went out to the fields and farms, marvelling at the landscape of Egypt and its fertile plains.
But Ghareeb stayed behind in the tent. He had prepared paper and ink and sat down to write a letter to his mother, for her image had never left his mind during the journey.
Despite all the scenes and landscapes he encountered between Lebanon and Egypt, her memory stayed with him.
He took up the pen and began to write, describing everything he had seen from the beginning of the journey until then, interwoven with deep emotions of longing and tenderness.
When he finished the letter, he stepped out of the tent and saw no one around except servants and horse handlers, who had released the horses to graze in the nearby fields.
He looked around and saw that the land was flat, its soil dark, with no hills or mountains in sight.
This made him think of Lebanon's hills, valleys, and springs.
His imagination carried him back to the palace of Beit Eldden, its overlooking mountains, ravines, forests, and gardens.
He remembered his mother and her parting words, and his heart trembled with longing.
His emotions overwhelmed him, and he wept.
The sun had started to set, and he watched it dip below the horizon, cloaked in golden, crimson, and silvery hues ... a breathtaking view.
Yet even that beauty could not distract him from thinking of his mother and the state she was in at their last meeting.
That memory only deepened his sorrow, making him regret coming on the journey and wish he were a bird, so he could fly back to Beit-Eldden to see her and kiss her hand.
While he was lost in those thoughts, the Emir and his sons returned, talking about the fertility of the land and the quality of its crops.
When the prince reached his tent and saw Ghareeb, he asked:
"Where were you, my son? Why didn't you come with us?"
Ghareeb replied that he had been writing a letter to his mother, then handed it to the prince, saying:
"I ask you, my lord, to send this letter to my mother!"
The Emir promised to do so.
Shortly after, dinner was served, and they all ate together.
Then everyone went to bed early, seeking rest after the exhausting journey.
In the morning, the Kashif (governor) welcomed them warmly. He had already sent word to Alexandria to inform Mohammad Ali Pasha of their arrival. The Pasha replied that the prince should be allowed to travel to Cairo with full honour, and he wrote to his deputy in Cairo to receive the Emir and his entourage, offering them hospitality and kindness.
He also told him:
"The Pasha sends you his greetings and wishes you well. No one dearer than you has ever entered Egypt."
So the prince and his entourage mounted their horses, and when they arrived at Bulaq, the port of Cairo, they found Hanna Al-Bahri Al-Homsi waiting to receive the Emir. He welcomed him and informed him that the Pasha was still in Alexandria, but would be coming soon.
Then Hanna led the prince and his sons to Al-Rawda Island, which faces Old Cairo, and settled them in the Khazindar Palace.
As for Ghareeb, when he reached Cairo, he was astonished by its vastness and the large crowds, for it was the first city of such size he had ever seen. He began asking those around him about everything new he saw, and they explained it to him in detail.
When they proceeded to Al-Rawda Island, Ghareeb was amazed at the island sitting in the middle of the blessed Nile, flowing day and night.
They continued their journey until they reached the palace, where they were warmly received. They found everything they could need already prepared, with servants attending to all requirements.
That very night, Ghareeb wrote another letter to his mother, describing all that had happened since his first letter.