462 ~ TRAVELS TO DISCOVER: 
{wered freely, and without referve, whether about the coun- 
try, religion, or government, or the poft which he enjoyed, 
if we can term it enjoying an office created for fuch horrid 
crimes. He told me, with great coolnefs, in anfwer to a 
queftion why he murdered Nafler’s fon in his father’s, pre- 
fence, that he did not dare to do otherwife from duty) to 
Naffer, whofe right it was to fee his fon flain in a regular 
and lawful manner, and this was by cutting his throat with © 
a fword, and not by a more ignominious and painful death, 
which, if it had not been done in the father’s fight, the ven- 
geance of his enemies might have fuggefted and infligted. 
He faid, that Naffer was very little concerned at the fpectacle 
of his fon’s death, but very loth when it came to his turn 
to die himfelf; that he urged him often to fuffer him to 
efcape, but, finding this in vain, he fubmitted without re- 
fiftance. He told me, I{fmain, the prefent king, ftood upon 
very precarious ground; that both the brothers, Adelan and 
Abou Kalec, were at the head of armieés in the field; that 
Kittou had at his difpofal all the forces that were in Sen- 
naar; and that the king was little efteemed, and had nei- 
ther experience, courage, friends, money, nor troops. 
I askEeD him if he was not afraid, when he entered into 
the king’s prefence, left he, too, might take it into his head 
to fhew him, that to die or be flain was not fo flight a mat- 
ter as he made of it. He faid, “By no means ; that it was 
his duty to be with the king the greateft part of themorn- . 
ing, and neceffarily once very late in the evening; that 
the king knew he had no hand in the wrong that might be 
done to him, nor any way advanced his death; but, being 
come to the point that he muft die, the reft was only a_ 
4 ‘ matter 
