2i8 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
brought againft me was judged abfolutely futile, and fhe was 
reftored to her mafter ; while he, on the other hand, was com- 
pelled to give up the cheft, &c. which had been violently with- 
held. The plunder which had fallen into the hands of my 
fervant and his accomplice was not fo eafily reftored. The 
Melek, tired of gratuitous juftice, began to think that a lucra- 
tive compofition was more eligible. The oiFenders, who had 
been obftinate in the firft inftance, feeing how the caufe relative 
to the jarea (female Have) had been decided, thought proper to 
offer to the Melek marks of their gratitude for the lenity they 
expedted from him ; and the Sultan was unwilling to imagine 
that the fujfferings of a Caffre could fall heavy on himfelf at 
the day of final retribution. In fa(5t, his difguft at the com- 
plaints continually preferred, and jealoufy and refentment againft 
fome of the Egyptians, who in this and other inftances ap- 
peared to have ufurped his authority, certainly influenced him 
in the firft part of the proceedings, rather than any love of 
juftice. 
At length the Melek, who in reality was fupreme arbiter of 
the conteft, contented himfelf with giving me in intrinfic value 
about four head of Haves, inftead of twenty-four or twenty-five, 
which at firft he had unequivocally declared due to me, 
and promifed I fhould receive. And thus the matter was ter- 
minated. 
I a fecond time retired to Cobbe, with little expedation of 
ever leaving the country. Of the property which the king's 
agents had on my arrival purchafed, no part of the price had 
yet 
