226 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
Fur, and that of my departure ; but they confrfted only of the 
Sultan's property, and that of one or two individuals, whom 
he particularly favoured. For a great quantity of merchandize 
having accumulated in his hands, he was determined to difpofe 
of it to advantage, before the other merchants fliould be per- 
mitted to produce theirs for fale. 
They were therefore reftrained by the ftrong arm of power, 
to favour the monarch's pernicious monopoly ; while the latter, 
with fmgular effrontery, gave out, that he had fent to negociate 
with the Beys the reception of the commodities of Soudan, on 
more advantageous terms than they had been before admitted. 
The man whom I had brought with me from Kahira as 
fervant, had availed himfelf of the property he had plundered 
to purchafe feveral flaves. He ftill continued to live in an 
apartment within the fame inclofure with myfelf, and I occa- 
fionally employed one of his flaves to prepare my food. 
He knew too much of me to imagine that I fhould lofe any 
opportunity that might offer of punifhing him, and accordingly 
was defirous of anticipating my defign. I had received warning 
of his views, and was cautious, fleeping little at night, and 
going always armed ; not that I much expeded any thing 
would be attempted by open force, though in effed two men 
had been employed by him, under promife of a reward, to 
flrangle me. Finding that meafure unfuccefsful, he obtained 
fome corrofive fubl'imate^ and put it into a difh that one of the 
flaves was dreffing. She was honeft and generous enough to 
inform 
