462 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



fwered freely, and without referve, whether about the coun- 

 try, rehgion, or government, or the pofl which he enjoyed, 

 if we can term it enjoying an office created for fuch horrid 

 crimes. He told me, with great coolnefs, in anfwer to a 

 queftion why he murdered NafTer's fon in his father's pre- 

 fence, that he did not dare to do otherwife from duty to 

 NalTer, whofe right it was to fee his fon flain in a regular 

 and lawful manner, and this was by cutting his throat with 

 a fword, and not by a more ignominious and painful death, 

 which, if it had not been done in the father's fight, the ven- 

 geance of his enemies might have fuggefted and inflicTied. 

 He faid, that Naffer was very little concerned at the fpeftacle 

 of his fon's death, but very loth when it came to his turn 

 to die himfelf ; that he urged him often to fuffer him to 

 efcape, but, finding this in vain, he fubmitted without i^-^ 

 fiftance. He told me, Ifmain, the prefent king, flood upon 

 very precarious ground; that both the brothers, Adelan and 

 Abou Kalec, were at the head of armies in the field ; that 

 Kittou had at his difpofal all the forces that were in Sen- 

 naar ; and that the king was little efteemed, and had nei- 

 ther experience, courage, friends, money, nor troops. 



I ASKED him if he was not afraid, when he entered into 

 die king's prefence,left he, too, might take it into his head 

 to fliew him, that to die or be flain was not fo flight a mat- 

 ter as he made of ir. He faid, " By no means,; that it was 

 his duty to be with the king the greateft part of the morn- 

 ing, and neceffarily once very late in the evening; that 

 the king knew he had no hand in the wrong that might be 

 done to him, nor any way advanced his death ; but, being 

 come to the point that he muft die, the reft was only a 

 A matter 



