572 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



did not I tell you this would happen for murdering the 



Aga ?" 



Our people had come to fee what had paiTed, and I 

 fent the women away, ordering them to be kept feparate, 

 out of the hearing of one another, to judge if in their an- 

 fwers they did not prevaricate. The woman defired to have- 

 her child with her, which I granted. The little creature, 

 inilead of being frightened, crowed, and held out its little 

 hands as it pafled me. We fallened the Arab with the chain 

 of the camels, and fo far was well ; but ftill we did not 

 know how near the Bifliareen might be, nor who thefe 

 were, nor whether they had fent off any intelligence in the 

 night. Until we were informed of this, our cafe was little 

 mended. Upon the man's appearing, all my people decla- 

 red, with one general voice, that no time was tohe loft, but 

 that they fliould all be put to death as foon as the camels- 

 were loaded, before we fet out on our journey ; and, in- 

 deed, at firft view of the thing, felf-prefervation, the firft 

 law of nature, feemed ftrongly to require it. Hagi Ifmael 

 was fo determined on the execution that he was already 

 fecking a knife fharper than his own. " We will ftay, Hagi 

 Ifmael, faid I, till we fee if this thief is a liar alfo. If he pre- 

 varicates in the anfwers he gives to my queftions, you fhali 

 then cut his head off, and we will confign him with the 

 He in his mouth, foul and body to hell, to his mafter whomr 

 he ferves." Ifmael anfwered "The truth is the truth ; if: 

 he lies, he can defervc no better„ 



The reader will eafdy undcrftand the neceffity of my 

 fpeaking at that moment in terms not only unufual for a 

 Cliriftian,^ but even, in any fociety or converfation ; and if the. 



fexocit?/. 



