29 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
were excellent. I had fuppreffed my character of phyfician, 
fearing I fhould be detained by-reafon of ‘the multitude of 
fick. e 
On the 15th of October the Naybe came to Mafuah, and 
‘difpatched the veflel that brought me over; and, as if he 
shad only waited till this evidence was out of the way, he, 
that very night, fent me word that I was to prepare him a 
hhandfome prefent. He gave in a long lift of particulars to 
a great amount, which he defired might be divided into 
three parcels, and prefented three feveral days. One was to 
be given him as Naybe of Arkeeko ; one as Omar Aga, re- 
prefentative of the grand fignior; and one for having pafled 
our baggage gratis and unvifited, efpecially the large qua- 
drant. For my part, I heartily wifhed he had feen the whole, 
as he would not have fet great value on the brafs and iron. 
As Achmet’s affurance of protection had given me cou= 
rage, l anfwered him, That, having a firman of the grand fig- 
nior, and letters from Metical Aga, it was mere generofity 
in me to give him any prefent at all, either as Naybe or O- 
mar Aga, and I was not amerchant that bought and fold, 
nor had merchandife on board, therefore had no cuftoms to 
pay. Upon this he fent for me to his houfe, where I found 
him in a violent fury, and many ufelefs words pafled on 
both fides. At laft he peremptorily told me, That unlefs I 
had 300 ounces of gold ready to pay him on Monday, up- 
on his landing from Arkeeko, he would confine me in a 
dungeon, without light, air, or meat, till the bones came 
through my {kin for want. 
