260 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
plied. But this was not fufficient — The Melek infifted alfo on- 
feeing the contents of a fmall cheft, which chiefly held articles 
Tifeful to myfelf, but not defigned for fale. There were alfo 
in it fome Englifli piftols, of which I intended to avail myfelf as 
prefents at Sennaar, or wherever elfe I might be able to pene- 
trate. I therefore pofitively refuted to open the cheft. He then 
threatened to have it broke open — I remained unmoved — At 
length his attendants proceeding to break it open, AH Hamad, 
the man who was with me, with his ufual villany, took the key 
from its concealment and opened the box. Every thing was 
taken out, and examined minutely — many fmall articles ap- 
peared no more. The piftols were referved to be taken by the 
Sultan, (after a violent but fruitlefs altercation,) at the valuation 
made by his own fervants j and my telefcopes, books, of which 
they knew not the ufe, wearing apparel, &c. were gracioufly 
left me. 
The valuation was to be made the following day, which was 
done quite againft my confent, and in contempt of my warmeft 
remonftrances. Some part of the articles were ftated at their 
full value, and others far below it. The whole was eftimated at 
thirty-eight head of flaves, being at the market-price worth 
about eighty, exclufively of a prefent of value for the Sultan. 
A pair of double-barrelled piftols, filver-mounted, which had 
coft twenty guineas in London, were valued at one flave, which 
is commonly purchafable, by thofe who are experienced in 
that traffic, for the value of fifteen piaftres in Egyptian com- 
modities. On this I exclaimed, that if they meant to plunder, 
and bargain and fale were not conduded in this country by 
confent 
