336 mr park's first journey. 
mense wealth, and extensive benevolence : The 
body of the narration consisted of an ingenious 
eulogium on Mr Park's blue coat, not omitting 
the yellow buttons with which it was decorated, 
while the conclusion contained an eloquent ad- 
dress to the owner, to persuade him to present it 
to his majesty, urging, that he would wear it on 
all public occasions, and inform every one that 
saw it of the donor's generosity. These argu- 
ments, with still more powerful motives, which his 
majesty did not urge, induced Mr Park to com- 
ply with this request, and quietly stripping off his 
coat, he laid it at the feet of the king. In con- 
sideration of this and the other presents, he was 
presented with five drachms of gold, and his baggage 
was exempted from examination. Next day the 
king desired him to visit his women, and upon his 
assenting, he was conducted into the seraglio. 
Here he was rallied by the African beauties, up- 
on the whiteness of his skin, and the prominence 
of his nose, which, they alleged, were both arti- 
ficial. The first, these philosophical ladies at- 
tributed to his having been bathed in milk 
when young, while they fancied that the nose had 
been elevated by pinching it from time to time, till 
it acquired its actual form. In return for these 
compliments on his features and complexion, 
Mr Park, with great gallantry, praised " the glossy 
" jet of their skins, and the lovely depression of 
