446 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER’ 
Oxz morning he came to me, after having been with 
the king, when I was myfelf preparing to go to the palace. 
He faid, he had been fent for uponmy- account, and had. 
been queftioned very narrowly what. fort of a man I was, 
Having anfwered very favourably, both of me and my na- 
tion, he was afked for Metical Aga’s letters, or any. other- 
letters he had received concerning me from Jidda; he faid,. 
that he had only {hewn Metical’s letter, wrote in the name, 
ef the therriffe, as alfo one from himfelf ; that, there were fe; 
veral great oflicers of government prefent; and the Cadi 
(whom I had feen the firft time I had been with the king) 
had read the letters atoud to them all:, That one of them. 
had afked, How it came that fuch a man as J ventured to 
pafs thefe deferts, with four or five, old fervants; and what 
it was I came to fee; that he anfwered, he apprehended 
my chief object at Sennaar was to be forwarded to my own 
country. It was alfo afked, Why I had not fome Englifh- 
men with me, as none of my fervants were of that nation, 
_ but poor beggarly Kopts, Arabs, and Turks, who were.none 
of them of my religion? Belal anfwered, That travellers. 
through thefe countries muft take up with fuch people as, 
they can find going the fame way; however,, he believed. 
fome Englith fervants had died in Abyflinia, which coun-; 
try I had left the firft opportunity that/hadjoffered, being — 
wearied by the perpetual war which prevailed.. Upon which 
the king faid, “ He has chofen well, when he came in- 
1o this country for peace. You know, Hagi Belal, I can do 
nothing for him; there is. nothing in-my hands. 51 could 
eafier get him back into ehp ania than forward. him into 
Egypt. Who is it now that can pafs into Egypt?” The Cadi 
then faid, “ Hagi Belal can get him to Suakem, and fo to 
Jidda 
a, A age lle! gag 
