86 park's first jourjjey. 



that he would be well treated, and on satisfying her ma 

 jesty's wish, would even be forwarded on his journey. 



Benowm, the Moorish capital, to which Park was then 

 conveyed, proved to be a mere camp composed of a number 

 of dirty tents, intermingled with herds of camels, horses, 

 and oxen. He was surrounded by crowds actuated partly 

 by curiosity and partly by that malignant feeling which al- 

 ways niflames the Moors against Christians. They snatched 

 off his hat, made him unbutton his clothes to show the 

 whiteness of his skin, and counted his fingers and toes to 

 see if he were really of the same nature with themselves. 

 After bemg kept for some time in the sun, he was lodged 

 in a hut made of cornstalks, supported by posts, to one of 

 which was tied a wild hog, evidently in derision, and to in- 

 timate that they were fit associates for each other. The 

 hog, indeed, would have been the most harmless part of the 

 afiair, had not idle boys taken delight in tormenting and 

 Working up the animal to a constant state of fury. Crowds 

 of men and women incessantly poured in to see the white 

 man, and he was obliged to continue the whole day but- 

 toning and unbuttoning his clothes, to show his skin, and 

 the European manner of dressing and undressing. When 

 curiosity was satisfied, the next amusement was to plague 

 the Christian, and he became the sport of the meanest and 

 most vulgar members of this rude community. The Moorish 

 horsemen took him out and galloped round him, baiting him 

 as if he had been a wild beast, twirling their swords in his 

 face to show their skill in horsemanship. Repeated at- 

 tempts were made to compel him to work. One of Ah's 

 sons desired him to mend the lock of a double-barrelled 

 gun, and could scarcely be persuaded that all Europeans 

 did not ply the trade of a smith. He was also installed as 

 barber, and directed to shave the head of a young prince ; 

 but not relishing this function, he contrived to give his 

 highness such a cut that Ali took the alarm and discharged 

 him as incapable. That chief, under pretence of securing 

 iim against depredation, seized for himself all that re- 

 mained of the traveller's property. Having examined the 

 instruments, he was greatly astonished at the compass, and 

 particularly at its always pointing towards the Great Desert, 

 rark, tliinking it vain to attempt any scientific exposition, 



