INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 55 
whites ; extolling their immense wealth, and good dispositions. 
He next proceeded to an eulogium on my blue coat, of which 
the yellow buttons seemed particularly to catch his fancy ; and 
he concluded by entreating me to present him with it ; assuring 
me, for my consolation under the loss of it, that he would wear 
it on all public occasions, and inform every one who saw it, of 
my great liberality towards him. The request of an African 
prince, in his own dominions, particularly when made to a 
stranger, comes little short of a command. It is only a way of 
obtaining by gentle means, what he can, if he pleases, take by- 
force ; and as it was against my interest: to offend him by a re- 
fusal, I very quietly took off my coat, the only good one in my 
possession, and laid it at his feet. 
In return for my compliance, he presented me with great 
plenty of provisions, and desired to see me again in the morn- 
ing. I accordingly attended, and found him sitting upon his 
bed. He told me he was sick, and wished to have a little blood 
taken from him ; but I had no sooner tied up his arm, and dis- 
played the lancet, than his courage failed ; and he begged me 
to postpone the operation till the afternoon, as he felt himself, 
he said, much better than he had been, and thanked me kindly 
for my readiness to serve him. He then observed, that his 
women were very desirous to see me, and requested that I would 
favour them with a visit. An attendant was ordered to conduct 
me ; and I had no sooner entered the court appropriated to the 
ladies, than the whole seraglio surrounded me ; some begging 
for physic, some for amber ; and all of them desirous of trying 
that great African specific, blood-letting. They were 10 or 12 
