EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 211 
which I had with me. He afked to fee both ; but after calling 
his eyes on each he returned them. The prefent I had brought 
was fhewn him, for which he thanked me, and rofe to retire. 
During the following fummer, the firft time I got admiflion 
to him, he was holding a diwan in the outer court. He was 
then mounted on a white mule, clothed with a fcarlet Bentjh, 
and had on his head a white turban ; which however, together 
with part of his face, was covered with a thick muflin. On his 
feet were yellow boots, and the faddle on which he was feated 
was of crimfon velvet, without any ornament of gold or filver. 
His fword, which was broad and ftraight, and adorned with an 
hilt of malTy gold, was held horizontally in his right hand. A 
fmall canopy of muflin was fupported over his head. Amid the 
noife and hurry of above a thoufand perfons who were there af- 
fembled, I was unable to make myfelf heard, which the nature 
of my fituation obliged me to attempt, though not exadly con- 
formable to the etiquette of the court, that, almoft to the exclu- 
fion of ftrangers, had appropriated the diwan to the troops, the 
Arabs, and others connec^ted with the government. 
On another occafion I contrived to gain admittance to the 
interior court by a bribe. The Sultan was hearing a caufe of a 
private nature, the proceedings on which were only in the Fur- 
ian language. He was feated on a kind of chair, ts^^y^, which 
was covered with a Turkey carpet, and wore a red filk turban ; 
his face was then uncovered : the Imperial fword was placed 
acrofs his knees, and his hands were engaged with a chaplet of 
red coral. Being near him I fixed my eyes on him, in order to 
E E 2 have 
