2 7 2 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



p ; lfering of what was left. The keys had remained with 

 me, and the Vizir had gone to fleep, as is ufual, about mid- 

 day. As foon as he awaked, being greedy of his prey, he 

 fell immediately to my baggage, wondering that fuch a 

 quantity of it, and that boxes in fuch a curious form, mould 

 belong to a mean man like me; he was therefore full of 

 hopes, that a fine opportunity for pillage was now at hand. 

 He afked for the keysof the trunks, my fervant laid, they 

 were with me, but he would go inftantly and bring them. 

 That, however, was too long to flay; no delay could pofli- 

 bly be granted. Accuftomed to pilfer, they did not force 

 the locks, but, very artift like, took off the hinges at the 

 back, and in that manner opened the lids, without opening 

 the locks. 



The firfl thing that prefented itfelf to the Vizir's fight, 

 was the firman of the Grand Signior, magnificently written 

 and titled, and the inscription powdered with gold duft, and 

 wrapped in green taffeta. After this was a white fattin bag, 

 addreffed to the Khan of Tartary, with which Mr Peyfibnel, 

 French conful of Smyrna, had favoured me, and which I had 

 not delivered, as. the Khan was then prifoner at Rhodes. The 

 next was a green and gold fills, bag, with letters directed to 

 the Sherriffe of Mecca ; and then came a plain crimfon-fattin 

 bag, with letters addreffed to Metical Aga, fword- bearer (or 

 Selictar, as it is called) of the Sherriffe, or his great minifler 

 and favourite. He then found a letter from Aii Bey to him- 

 felf, written with all the Superiority of a Prince to a flave. 



In this letter the Bey tokl him plainly, that he heard the 

 governments of Jidda, Mecca, and other States of the Sher- 

 rifle, were diforderly, and that merchants, corning about 



their 



