A RIDE TO MAGNESIA. 147 



cannot easily carry about with you, and these the 

 public institution provides ; but all things edible, 

 or wearable, or convenient, you must provide for 

 yourself. 



Our good friend brought a lamp, which he set 

 upon the floor ; and as the evening was coolish, and 

 the cell had the air of not having been tenanted for 

 a long time, we signified to him that a fire would be 

 agreeable. Having made the exception in our favour, 

 in virtue of which he had undertaken to supply our 

 various necessities, he set about fulfilling his contract 

 with a good will, and seemed only anxious to know 

 what he could do for us. We pointed to the bare 

 floor, and insinuated an appeal to him, as a man of 

 honour and a gentleman, whether such a couch did 

 not admit of improvement. It is very probable that 

 he uttered in his sleeve some objurgation on Frankish 

 luxury, that could not be contented to sleep as other 

 people did, or at any rate to provide capotes like 

 other people. But he signified to us his intelligence 

 of our meaning and his ready acquiescence ; and soon 

 entered a satellite laden with rugs, on which a prince 

 might have reposed, to say nothing of a weary 

 traveller. 



Behold us, then, stretched on OUT couches around 

 the fire, soothing our spirits with that best of smoking 

 inventions, the nargille. The providing of these, and 

 of coffee, icithout sugar, came within the legitimate 

 province of the Khandgi, who keeps a cafe in the 



