2IO 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
the meflage was kept in profound fecrecy, nor could I difcover 
whether it portended good or evil. I left Cobbe the fame even- 
ing, and arrived at the end of my journey the following day 
about noon. 
I repaired as before to the Melek Ibrahim, who on the follow- 
ing day introduced me at the public audience. The Sultan, as 
he retired to the palace after it was over, ordered all the parties 
to appear. Being come within the inner court, he flopped the 
white mule on which he was mounted, and began a fhort ha- 
rangue, addrefling himfelf to HofTein and Ali Hamad, my fer- 
vant, in which he cenfured, in a rapid and energetic ftyle, their 
conduft towards me. — " One," faid he, turning to Ali, " calls 
himfelf Wakil of the Frank j if he were a Sherif and a Muf- 
lim, as he pretends, he would know that the law of the Prophet 
permits not a Muflim to be Wakil to a Caffre : another calls 
himfelf his friend — but both are agreed in robbing him of his 
property, and ufurping the authority of the laws. — Henceforth 
I am his Wakil, and will protect him." He then ordered all 
the parties to repair to the houfe of Mufa Wullad Jelfun, Melek 
of the jelabs, under whofe appropriate jurifdidlion are all fo- 
reign merchants. Here it may not be improper to relate briefly 
how I had been before received by the Sultan. 
On my firft audience I was too ill to make much obfervatlon : 
I was feated at a diftance from him j the vifit was fhort, and I 
had no opportunity of opening a converfation. He was placed 
on his feat [curfi) at the door of his tent. Some perfon had 
mentioned to him my watch, and a copy of Erpenius's Grammar, 
which 
