66 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



ed that, crofling the deep bed of a brook, a plant of the 

 kantufFa hung acrofs it. I had upon my fliouldcrs a white 

 goat fkin, of which it did not take hold; but the king,, 

 who was drefled in the habit of peace, his long hair floats 

 ing all around his face, wrapt up in his mantle, or thin cot- 

 ton cloak, fo that nothing but his eyes could be feen, was 

 paying more attention to the horfe than to the branch of 

 kantuffa befide him ; it took firfl hold of his hair, and the 

 fold of the cloak that covered his head, then fpread itfelf 

 over his whole fhoulder in fuch a manner, that, notwith- 

 Handing all the help that coulvl be given him, and that I had^ 

 at firft feeing it, cut the principal bough afunder with my 

 knife, no remedy remained but he mull throw off the up- 

 per garment, and appear in the under one, or waiilcoat, with 

 his head and face bare before all the fpedators.. 



This-is accounted great difgrace to a king, who alwaytJ 

 appears covered in public. However, he did not feem to be 

 ruMed, nor was there any thing particular in his counten- 

 ance more than before, but with great compofure, and in 

 rather a low voice, he called twice, Who is the Shum of 

 this diilrid ? Unhappily he was not far off. A thin old man 

 offixty, and his fon about thirty, came trotting, as tlieir 

 euftom is, naked to their girdle, and flood before the king, 

 who v/as, by this time, quite cloathed again. What had 

 flruck the old man's fancy, I know not, but he palled my 

 horfe laughing, and feemingly wonderfully content with 

 himfelf. I could not help confidering him as a type of 

 mankind in general, never more confident and carelefs than 

 when on the brink of deflruaion; the king aflced if he was 

 SKum of that place ? he anfwered in the aflirmacive, and 



added,, 



