190 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
Arabic language, rather as Daif-es-Sultan, the king's ftranger, in 
which Hght the people of the country had hitherto viewed me, 
I expected to obtain, without delay, permiffion to continue my 
journey to the royal refidence. I obferved to the Melek of 
■Sweini and other public officers, in one among many converf- 
ations I had with them, that " intending to vifit the Sultan, I 
fhould hardly have expedled to be put back with frivolous ex- 
cufes, as the nonpayment of duties which you dare not expli- 
citly demand of me, and tributes under the name of prefents, 
which have never yet been exacted of a ftranger. If any duties 
be payable, beyond what have already been difcharged, you are 
perfectly at liberty to detain all, or fuch part, of the articles I 
bring with me, as you judge fufEcient to anfweryour claim; but 
not to refufe me permiffion to go to the Sultan, with whom I 
have bufinefs. Or if other reafons operate to prevent my re- 
queft being complied with, and any fufpicions prevail relative to 
my views in coming here, I defire, without further delay, to be 
furnifhed with the means of returning to Egypt, before I fufFer, 
as commonly happens to ftrangers, from the effects of the cli- 
mate, while I am yet in the habit of travelling, and while the 
funds are yet unexhaufted which fhould fupport me in my pro- 
grefs farther." 
The mifreprefentations which had been made concerning me, 
and which had by this time reached the Sultan, manacled the 
hands of the Melek, and prevented my remonftrance from 
having any effed:. But candour and ingenuoufnefs have no 
part in the character of flaves ; and the antient obfervation is 
moft juft, that " when a man becomes a Have he lofes half his 
virtue." 
