2o8 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
price. The latter had the modefty to afk ten head of flaves. 
He was then to make his demand on me for the value of ten 
flaves, and if I carried the matter before the Cadi, which he fup- 
pofed I fhoiild hardly venture to do, he had fuborned witneflTes 
to prove that I had received of him property to that amount. 
On my removal from Cobbe to El Fafher, I had caufed my 
fmall remaining property, among which were few articles of 
value, but many of much ufe to me, to be lodged in the houfe 
of Hojfein, (the owner of the flave,) and his companion. On 
my return thither, which happened within a few days after the 
accident, I claimed it : they refilled, as they alleged, at the fuit 
of my broker, and would not deliver it till the value of ten flaves 
fliould be paid to him. I had from the firft confidered their con- 
dud: as fo violent, that if it reached the ears of the government, 
the claim muft unquefl:ionably be abandoned : and indeed my 
adverfaries had only refted their expedations on the timidity 
which they had been accuftomed to obferve in Chriftians of the 
country, whofe accufation and condemnation are in fad the 
fame. I had not negleded to give the tranfadion all the noto- 
riety I could, without having recourfe to public authority, and 
thofe to whom I had applied were decidedly in my favour : I 
therefore now went to my adverfaries, Hofl^ein and his compa- 
nion, and in their prefence offered to Ali Hamad a promiflx)ry 
note for the value of ten flaves, at the market price on my arri- 
val in Kahira. It was refufed ; and my cheft, in which were 
fome German dollars and other articles, was ftill detained by 
them ; the reft was given up. 
In 
