SKETCH OF BOTINEO. 45 



lo^sce liiir» as S^i^tan, wliich he only accomplish* 

 cd by (lint of presents and promiscs, engaginj^ to 

 discharge liis father's debts so soon as possible, 

 %vhil3 ho gave up many of bis own claims, espe- 

 cially those ^vhicb were due by the Arabs. 



The dcccased Sultan was a man of fine pre- 

 sence and the most respectable appearancC;, pos- 

 scsscd the most insinuating addrcss and irn- 

 posing manners. Profnse and ostentations in bis 

 habits, he scruplcd at no means, however bare, 

 for raising nioney to support this exterlor stafe, 

 nnd as he was perfectly versed in every species 

 f)f deception, and always supported the appear- 

 ance of wealth^ he seldom failed toprocure cre- 

 dit from strangers. He concealed bis debts with 

 the utmost care, and was in the constant habit 

 of contracting one debt to discharge another, 

 often selling goods for that purpose at a large 

 discount on what he bad bouffht them. Ev this 

 nieans bis debts and bis difïiculties went on gra- 

 dually accumulating to bis death. The rnost 

 considerable part of bis debts were incurred to 

 the Bugis traders, and in consequence of this, 

 the Sultan was obli2:ed to wink at manv irre2:u- 

 larities of those tradcrs, in re2:ard to avoidins: 

 the üsual Port dntics. The Chinese repcatcdly 

 /nade him offers to farm the duties of tbc port. 



