196 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
producing regular and continued tranfpiration, and the ftate of 
the air then meliorated, having removed the caufe of indifpofi- 
tiori, it was not long before I gained a certain degree of 
flrength. 
Arrived at El Fafher, I was firft introduced to the Melek 
Mifellhn^ one of the principal minifters. This man, when 
young, had been a flave, and engaged in domeftic offices of the 
palace, but having been deteded ufing fome familiarities with one 
of the women, the monarch had ordered him to be deprived of 
the enfigns of manhood. Ignorant and uneducated, he appeared 
to have a certain quicknefs of apprehenfion, which, together with 
uncommon gaiety of humour, had rendered him acceptable at 
court, where he appeared more as a buffoon than a minifter of 
ftate. He received me with a rude ftare as an objedt he was 
unufed to, which was followed by a mingled fmile of contempt 
and averfion. He was feated with fome other of the royal 
attendants, under a kind of awning of cotton cloth, on a mat 
fpred upon the fand. After the common falutations, the Melek 
and his company entered into converfation on the nature of my 
vifit to the country ; and each made his remarks on my perfon, 
and offered his conjedures as to my character and intentions. 
: Their converfation was partly carried on in their vernacular 
idiom, partly in Arabic. At length a wooden bowl of poktita, 
and another of dried meat, were fet before them. My illnefs 
deprived me of all inclination to eat ; and obferving the com- 
pany not much inclined to invite me to join them, and yet 
embarraffed how to avoid that ceremony, I relieved them by 
declining 
