534 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



top of her nofe, and between her eye-brows, Ihe had a fmall 

 fpeck made of cohol or antimony, fom'-corner'd, and of the 

 fize of the fmallefl patches our women ufed to wear ; ano- 

 ther rather longer upon the top of her nofe, and one on the 

 middle of her chin. 



Sitt'ina. " Tell me what you would fay to me as a phyfi- 

 cian." — Ta. " It was, Madam, but in confequence of your 

 difcourfe yeflerday. That heavy gold cap with which you 

 prefs your hair will certainly be the caufe of a great part 

 of it falling off." S'ltt. " I believe fo; but I fhould catch cold, 

 I am fo accuftomed to it, if I was to leave it off. Are you a 

 man of name and family in your own country ?" Ta. " Of 

 both, Madam." Sitt. " Are the women handfome there ?" 

 Ta. " The handfomefl: in the world. Madam ; but they are 

 fo good, and fo excellent in all other refpefts, that nobody 

 thinks at all of their beauty, nor do they value themfelves 

 upon it." S'ltt. " And do they allow you to kifs their hands ?" 

 Ta. " I underftand you. Madam, though you have miftaken 

 me. There is no familiarity in killing hands, it is a mark 

 of homage, and diftant refpedl paid in my country to our 

 fovereigns, and to none earthly befides." Sitt. " Oyes! but 

 the kings." Ta. " Yes, and the queens, too, always on the 

 knee, Madam; I faidour fovereigns, meaning both king and 

 queen. On her part it is a mark of gracious condefcenfion, 

 in favour of rank, merit, and honourable behaviour; it is a 

 reward for dangerous and difficult lervices, above all other 

 compenfation." 6'///. " But do you know that no man e , er 

 kifled my hand but you ?" Ta. "It is impoffible 1 fho Jd 

 know that, nor is it material. Of this I am confiden . it 

 was meant reipedfully, cannot hurt you, and ought not to 



offend 



