44 MEMOIR OF BRUCE. 



The first thing he beheld was the finnan of the 

 Grand Signior, splendidly written and titled, the 

 inscription being powdered with gold dust, and 

 wrapped up in green taffeta. Next appeared a 

 white satin bag, addressed to the Khan of Tartar y ! 

 Then a green and gold bag, with letters directed to 

 the Sheriff of Mecca ! Then a crimson satin bag, con- 

 taining others for Metical Aga, his chief minister, 

 sword-bearer, and favourite ! Lastly, appeared a 

 letter from Ali Bey of Cairo to the Vizier himself, 

 written with all the haughty pomp of a prince to a 

 slave, and concluding by saying, that if any accident 

 should happen to Bruce through his neglect, the 

 offence should be punished at the gates of the Holy 

 City. The Vizier's curiosity at the sight of so much 

 mysterious grandeur, was soon changed into feelings 

 of very painful alarm; he ordered the mighty 

 stranger's boxes to be nailed up immediately, and 

 upbraiding the servants for not telling him to whom 

 they belonged, he mounted his horse, and instantly 

 rode down to the English factory, inquiring every 

 where for the English nobleman, whom nobody had 

 seen. 



Bruce was still lying on his mat in the court, which 

 was now filled with a crowd of people ; and on the 

 question being put to him, by one of the officers, 

 where his master was? " In heaven" he replied, 

 yawning from his sleep; but soon recovering his 

 scattered senses, he rose and introduced himself to 

 the Vizier, as the owner of the tremendous luggage. 

 On Mng informed of his plans, arrangements were 



