DENHAM AND CLAPPERTON. 141 



rfiief with the most minute attention ; the other gifts, con- 

 sisting of fine cloths, spices, and porcelain, were no sooner 

 produced than the slaves carried them off. The African 

 was particularly gratified on being told that the king of Eng- 

 land had heard of him, and said, turning to his captains, 

 *< This must be in consequence of our having defeated the 

 Begharmis;" upon which Bagah Furby, a grim old soldier, 

 who had made a figure in that war, came forward and asked, 

 " Did he ever hear of me ?" Major Denham scrupled not to 

 answ^er " Certainly ;" when the whole party instantly called 

 out, " Oh ! the king of England must be a great man." 



The Major, in the course of his residence at Kouka, had 

 frequent opportunities of visiting the sheik. One day he 

 received a message that he must come instantly and ex- 

 hibit a musical box playing tunes by itself, which the other 

 understood to be in his possession. This great warrior, 

 who had never before shown any interest unless about grave 

 concerns, was quite enchanted on hearing its performance, 

 and raised shouts of delight and astonishment. He exa- 

 mined minutely the different parts of the mechanism, de- 

 claring he would w^illingly give a thousand dollars in ex- 

 change for it. The Major, unable to misunderstand so 

 broad a hint, presented the box to his highness. The dis- 

 play of sky-rockets also caused the utmost amazement and 

 joy, and was even employed to strike the enemies of the 

 sheik with superstitious awe. Finding that our traveller 

 could speak Arabic, and give much information not attain- 

 able from any other quarter, Barca Gana became fond of 

 his conversation, and invited him to pay frequent «visits. 



It remained that Major Denham should be introduced to 

 the sultan in his royal residence at Birnie, where all the 

 state and pomp of the kingdom, with none of its real power. 

 Were concentrated. On the 2d March, the English ac- 

 companied Boo Khalloom to that city, and, on their arrival 

 there, the following morning was fixed for the interview. 

 Fashion, even in the most refined European courts, does 

 not always follow the absolute guidance of reason or taste, 

 and her magic power is often displayed in converting de- 

 formities into beauties ; but there is certainly no court of 

 which the taste is so absurd, grotesque, or monstrous, as 

 that to which Major Denham was now introduced. An 

 enormous protruding belly and a huge misshapen head are 

 the two features without which it is vain to aspire to the 



