492 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



wakened by the noife of men endeavouring to force open 

 the door ; that he hearkened a little, and found there were 

 many of them. Our arms were all ready, and we fnatch- 

 ed them up and ran towards the door ; but I ftopr, 

 and planted them upon the firfl landing-place in the ftair- 

 cafe, as I wiflicd not to fire till the enemy was fairly in the 

 houfe, that no excufc might remain for this their violation 

 of hofpitality. 



I STATIONED Ifmacl at the outer door of the houfe, intend- 

 ing that he fliould fire firft, as it would be lefs odious in 

 him, being a Turk and a flierrifFe, than for us Chriflians. 

 I then went out to the outer gate, and Soliman with me. 

 The entry into the yard was through a kind of porters 

 lodge, where fervants ufed to fit in the day-time, and fleep at 

 night. It had a door from the fi;rect, and then another into 

 the yard, the latier fmal],but very flrong. They had forced 

 the outer gate, and were then in the lodge, endeavouring 

 to do the fame by the inner, having put a handfpike under 

 it to lift it up from tlie hinges. " Are you not madmen^ 

 faid T, and weary of your Uvc's, to attempt to force Adelan's 

 houfe, when there arc witliin it men abundantly provided 

 with large fire-arms, t]:iat, upon one difcharge through the 

 door, will lay you all dead where you now uand ?" " Stand 

 by from the door, cries Ifmacl, and let mc fire. Thefe 

 black Kafrs don't yet know what my blunderbufs is." They 

 had been filent from the time I had fpokcn, and had with- 

 drawn the handfpike from under the door. " Uilah! UUah! 

 cries one of them foftly, how found you fieep ! we have 

 been endeavouring to waken you this hour. The king is 

 ill; tell Yagoube to co.re to the palace, and open the door 

 inHantly." " Tell the king, faid I, to drink v/arm water, 



and 



