m TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



were excellent. I had fupprcllcd my character of phyfician, 

 -fearing I mould be detained by reafon of the multitude of 

 fick. 



On the 15th of October the Naybe came to Mafuah, and 

 difpatched the veffel that brought me over ; and, as if he 

 had only waited till this evidence was out of the way, he, 

 that very night, fent me word that I was to prepare him a 

 handfome prefent. He gave in a long lift of particulars to 

 a great amount, which he defired might be divided into 

 three parcels, and prefented three feveral days. One was to 

 be given him as Naybe of Arkeeko ; one as Omar Aga, re- 

 prefentative of the grand fignior; and one for having patted 

 our baggage gratis and unviiitcd, efpecially the large qua- 

 drant. For my part, 1 heartily wiihed he had feen the whole, 

 as he would not have let great value on the brafs and iron. 



As Achmet's afTurance of protection had given me cou- 

 rage, I anfwcred him, That, having a firman of the grand fig- 

 nior, and letters from Metical Aga, it was mere generofity 

 in me to give him any prefent at all, either as Naybe or O- 

 mar Aga, and I was not a merchant that bought and fold, 

 nor had merchandife on board, therefore had no cuftoms to 

 pay. Upon this he fent for me to his houfe, where I found 

 him in a violent fury, and many ufelcfs words pafTed on 

 both fides. At lail he peremptorily told me, That unlefs I 

 had 300 ounces of gold ready to pay him on Monday, up- 

 on his landing from Arkeeko, he would confine me in a 

 dungeon, without light, air, or meat, till the bones came 

 through my ikin for want. 



An 



