252 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



Grand Siguior, and the SherrifTe of Mecca, the fovereigns 

 of the two parties ; and, the only thing the poor animal 

 was interefled in, he had threatened to deftroy the wheat 

 that was going to Mecca. After having fpent great part of 

 the afternoon in upbraiding the camel, whofe meafure of in- 

 iquity, it feems, was near full, each man thruft him through 

 with a lance, devoting him Diis manibus^ Diris, by a kind of 

 prayer, and with a thoufand curfes upon his head. After 

 which, every man retired, fully fatisned as to the wrongs. 

 he hadreceived from the cameL 



The reader will eafily obferve in this, fome traces of the 

 *azazel, or fcape-goat of the Jews, which was turned out 

 into the wildernefs, loaded with the fins of the people. 



Next morning I went to the palace, as we call it, in which 

 were fome very handfome apartments. There was a guard 

 of janifTaries at the door, who, being warriors, lately come 

 from the bloody battle with the camel, did not fail to fhew 

 marks of infolence, which they wilhed to be miflaken for 

 courage. 



The two Agas were fitting on a high bench upon Periiarj 

 carpets; and about forty well-dreffedand well-looking men, 

 (many of them old) fitting on carpets upon the floor, in a 

 femi-circle round them. They behaved with great polite* 

 nefs and attention, and afked no queftions but general ones ; 

 as, How the fea agreed with me ? If there was plenty at Cairo? 



till 



* Levit. chap, xvi, vcr. 5, 



