TRAVELS IN BARBARY. 
in that posture, with his face so close to the 
ground, that, in rising, the dust adhered to his 
nose. The ambassador bowing as he approach- 
ed, the emperor nodded his head, and said se-* 
veral times Bono. When the letter from the 
king of Great Britain was taken out of a silk 
handkerchief and presented, the prince declared 
his love of the English, and his readiness to grant 
every request made by them. He spoke so much 
himself, that it was difficult to bring him to any 
precise stipulations : but when the treaty of peace 
was at last laid before him, he declared his satisfac- 
tion with its contents, and though his word was suffi- 
cient, yet would sign it for their satisfaction. 
The emperor, Muley Ismael, was eighty-seven 
years old, and bore traces of the infirmities belong- 
ing to so advanced an age. He had lost all his 
teeth, breathed with difficulty, and had a severe 
cough. His beard was thin and very white ; his 
eyes much sunk. He was still very active, how- 
ever, and his eyes had not lost all their fire. He had 
reigned fifty-three years, having, in 167^, succeed- 
ed to his brother, Muley Arschid, of whom he was 
not the rightful heir ; but being governor of Me- 
quinez, and having thus a considerable force un- 
der his command, he dethroned and put to death 
Muley Hamet, his nephew. The cruelty of this 
extraordinary barbarian soon began to manifest 
itself. It produced at first some salutary effects 5 
