THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 3l 



The apparatus of inftruments that were opened at the 

 cuftom-houfe of Alexandria, prepoflcffed Rifk in favour of 

 my fuperior knowledge in aflrology. 



The Jew, who was matter of the cuftom-houfe, was not 

 only ordered to refrain from touching or taking them out 

 of their places (a great mortification to a Turkiih cuftom- 

 houfe, where every thing is handed about and fliewn) but 

 an order from the Bey alfo arrived that they fhould be fent 

 to me without duty or fees, becaufe they were not merchan- 

 dife. 



I was very thankful for that favour, not for the fake of 

 faving the dues at the cuftom-houfe, but becaufe I was ex- 

 cufed from having them taken out of their cafes by rough 

 and violent hands, which certainly would have broken fome- 

 thing. 



Risk waited upon me next day, and let me know from 

 whom the favour came ; on which we all thought this was 

 a hint for a prefent ; and accordingly, as I had other bufi- 

 nefs with the Bey, I had prepared a very handfome one. 



But I was exceedingly aftonifhed when defiring to know 

 the time when it was to be offered ; it not only was refufed, 

 but fome few trifles were fent as a prefent from the fecre- 

 tary with this menage : " That, when I had repofed, he 

 " would vifit me, defire to fee me make ufe of thefe inftruv 

 " ments ; and, in the mean time, that I might reft confident, 

 " that nobody durft any way moleft me while in Cairo, for 

 " I was under the immediate protection of the Bey." 



He 



