222 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
confult my inclination in all things. I began to prefs my re- 
queft for permiffion to travel ; but to this he turned a deaf ear, 
and foon left the place of audience. Another time I was called 
to a Melek, a man of advanced age, who had been blind of one 
eye for nine years, but was much difpleafed at being told his 
diforder was incurable. Many inftances of the fame kind 
occurred. 
The fame winter I was fent for by Mifellim, to receive a 
part of what was due to me. He was at Gidid, a town about 
forty miles from Cobbe. I was not long detained, having been 
permitted to return in a few hours after my arrival. But the 
payment was made in oxen, a commodity to me of very little 
value. They however afforded me fubfiftence for fome months, 
which otherwife probably I fliould have wanted. 
The firft week of the month Rabta-el-achlr, this year, was dif- 
tinguifhed by a feftival which I conceive peculiar to this coun- 
try — the Gekd-el-Nahds^ the leathering of the kettle-drum. It 
lafts eight or ten days fucceffively ; during which time the Me- 
leks and great men offer to the monarch confiderable prefents. 
I have known the Melek of jelabs take with him in his vifit of 
congratulation prefents, of various kinds, worth fixty head of 
flaves. Almoft all, except abfolute mendicants, are obliged to 
come forward with fome offering, proportioned to their rank. 
In recompence of this involuntary generofity on the part of the 
people, a kindnefs almoft as involuntary, but fomewhat cheaper, 
is exhibited on the part of the Sultan — his kitchen during the 
time is devoted to the public fervice. But as too great a number 
of 
