24 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
I gave the fervant two bottles of cinnamon-water, which he 
refufed till I had firft tafted them ; but they were not agree- 
able to the Naybe, fo they were returned. 
Aut this time I very much wondered what was become of 
Achmet,who,with Mahomet Gibberti, remained at Arkeeko: 
at laft I heard from the Naybe’s fervant that he was in bed, 
ill of a fever. Mahomet Gibberti had kept his promife to 
me; and, faying nothing of my {kill in phyfic, or having 
medicines with me, I fent, however, to the Naybe to defire 
leave to go to Arkeeko. He anfwered me furlily, 1 might 
go if I could find a boat’; and, indeed, he had taken his mea- 
fures fo well that not a boat would ftir for money or per- 
fuafion. 
On the 29th of October the Naybe came again from Ar- 
keeko to Mafuah, and, I was told, in very ill-humour with 
me. I foon received a mefiage to attend him, and found him 
ina large wafte room like a barn, with about fixty people 
‘with him. This was his divan, or grand council, with all his 
janizaries and officers of ftate, all naked, aflembled in par- 
lament. There was a comet that had appeared a few 
days after our arrival at Mafuah, which had been many 
days vifible in Arabia Felix, being then in its perihelion; 
‘and, after paffing its conjunction with the fun, it now ap- 
peared at Mafuah early in the evening, receding to its aphe- 
lion. thad been obferved watching it with great attention; 
and the large tubes of the telefcopes had given offence ‘to 
ignorant people. 
Tue firft queftion the Naybe afked me was, What that 
comet meant,and why it appeared? And before I could an- 
4. {wer 
