INTERVIEW WITH THE SULTAN. 
267 
gaining admission, we found the mighty potentate 
half-dozing on his conch. He woke up as we en- 
tered, and sitting upon his hams, politely excused 
himself for being found en deshabille. To remedy 
this state of things as much as possible, he imme- 
diately wound round his head a black band or tur- 
ban ; and having thus improved his toilet, bade us 
sit down. I took my place very near him, and 
observed his appearance with some interest. He 
was a venerable-looking black, but, like most of 
the Kailouees, had something of an European cast 
of features. They say he is about seventy-eight 
years old, and manifestly suffers the infirmities of 
that great age. 
The dialogue was begun by the Sultan asking us 
how we were in health, and whether we had not 
now more quiet than down on the road ? Then he 
added, that he was himself very poorly, but that at 
this season of the year this was nothing uncommon. 
Being in a garrulous mood, he allowed us little time 
to reply, and went on with a string of compliments. 
Of the state of his own country he said, " There is 
now a general fermentation throughout all the dis- 
tricts of Aheer. The people have thrown off the 
yoke of their sultans or magistrates, and the roads 
are infested with bands of robbers." In fact, it 
would appear that the inhabitants of this out-of-the 
way kingdom have just fallen into the crisis of a 
revolution. What grievances brought about this 
state of things we have not yet learned ; but, un- 
