DISCOVERIES OF THE FRENCH. 181 
another. The conversation now became extreme- 
ly animated, and the Director found it difficult to 
reply to the numerous questions addressed to him 
from all quarters. The ladies of France, their beauty, 
their dress, their gallantry, and the magnificence 
of the court, formed the favourite topics. While 
the ladies dined, Brue retired into another room, 
understanding this to be conformable to the customs 
of the country. Such reserve, however, appears 
to have been considered as superfluous ; for, in the 
midst of dinner, the queen sent for him, and made 
him sit down. When the entertainment was over, 
he presented them with coffee and chocolate, which 
they found excellent. At parting he made a 
number of presents, always the necessary accom- 
paniments of a royal visit, and then saw them on 
shore. So much pleased does the queen appear to 
have been with this visit, that scarcely a day elapsed 
"without her sending some present. 
On the 17th May, a caravan was seen approach- 
ing, which soon exhibited appearances indicating 
something much superior to a mere company of 
merchants. After a long cavalcade of camels and 
horses, with armed men mounted on them, and 
trumpets blowing, a camel was seen much larger 
than the rest, and having on its back an open seat, 
on which two females were placed. These proved 
to be the mother and wife of Addi, who, attracted 
by the reputation of Brue, came to pay him a visit. 
