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TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



I do not think, that in juftice or equity, either you or I can 

 hinder the ghoft from continuing his voyage to Abyfiinia, 

 as we cannot judge what ferious bufinefs he may have 

 there." The Rais began to blefs himfelf that he did not 

 know any thing of his affairs. — " Then, faid I," " if you do 

 not find he makes the veffel too heavy before, do not moleft 

 him ; becaufe, certainly if he was to come into any other 

 part of the fhip, or if he was to infift to fit in the middle of 

 you (in the difpofition that you all are) he would be a great- 

 er inconvenience to you than in his prefent poll." The 

 Rais began again to blefs himfelf, repeating a verfe of the 

 Koran; " bifmilla fheitan rejem," in the name of God keep 

 the devil far from me. " Now, Rais," faid I, " if he does us 

 no harm, you will let him ride upon the boltfprit till he is 

 tired, or till he comes to Mafuah, for I fwear to you, unlefs 

 he hurts or troubles us, I do not think I have any obliga- 

 tion to get out of my bed to moleft him, only fee that he 

 carries nothing off with him. 



The Rais now feemed to be exceedingly offended, and 

 faid, for his part he did not care for his life more than any 

 other man on board ; if it was not from fear of a gale of 

 wind, he might ride on the boltfprit and be d — — n'd ; but 

 that he had always heard learned people could fpeak to 

 ghofts. Will you be fo good, Rais, faid I, to ftep forward, 

 and tell him, that I am going to drink coffee, and mould 

 be glad if he would walk into the cabbin, and fay any thing 

 he has to communicate to me, if he is a Chriftian, and 

 if not, to Mahomet Gibberti. The Rais went out, but, as 

 my fervant told me, he would neither go himfelf, nor could 

 get any perfon to go to the ghoft for him. He came back, 

 however, to drink coffee with me. I was very ill, and ap- 



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