446 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



One morning he came to me, after having been with 

 the king, when I was myfelf preparing ro go to the palace. 

 He faid, he had been fent for upon my account, and had 

 been queflioned very narrowly what fort of a man I was. 

 Having anfwered very favourably, both of me and my na- 

 tion, he was afked for Mctical Aga's letters, or any other 

 letters he had received concerning me from Jidda ; he faid, 

 that he had only fliewn Merical's letter, wrote in the name 

 of the flierrifFe, as alfo one from himfelf ; that there were fe- 

 veral great ofllcers of government prefent ; and the Cadi 

 (whom I had feen the firil time I had been with the king) 

 had read the letters aloud to them all : That one of them 

 had afl:ed. How it came that fuch a man as I ventured to 

 pafs thefe defer ts, with four or five old fervants, and what 

 it was I came to fee ; that he anfwered, he apprehended 

 my chief objetfl at Sennaar was to be forwarded to my own 

 country. It was alfo afked, AVhy I had not fomc Englifli- 

 nien with me, as none of my fervants were of that nation, 

 but poox beggarly Kopts, Arabs, and Turks, who were none 

 of them of my religion ? Eelal anfwered. That travellers 

 through thefe countries muft take up with fuch people as 

 they can find going the fame way ; however, he believed 

 fome Englifli fervants had died in Abylluiia, which coun- 

 try I had left the fiifl opportunity that had oflered, being 

 wearied by the perpetual war which prevailed. Upon which 

 the king faid, " He has chofen well, when lie came in- 

 to this ecuntry for peace. You know, Hagi 3elal, I can do 

 nothing for him ; there is nothing in my hands. I could 

 eafier get him back into Abyffinia than forward liini into 

 Egypt, Who is it now that can pafs into Egypt r" The Cadi 

 then faid, " Hagi Belal can get him to Suakein, and {o to 



Jidda 



