THE SULTAN'S DEMANDS. 
315 
lated to the Sultan. They all wanted medicine, but 
for what they could not tell ; so I gave them each a 
taste of Epsom. This made them relish a bit of 
sugar, which I distributed to them afterwards, and 
which appeased their grimaces and disgust. I am 
pestered to death for medicines, and have visitors 
without number. 
The Sultan sent word this morning to know if 
I had anything to sell, any fine things from the 
Christian countries, for he wished to buy them. 
Our people returned for answer that I was not a 
merchant, but belonged to the Queen. He then 
begged me to give him a small quantity of my me- 
dicines, for he had heard I had most wonderful 
drugs ; — would I favour him with some of every 
kind, that he might be prepared for all possible 
complaints which might attack him hereafter, 
when I was gone ? For the present he is suffering 
from pains in all his joints ; and requests, in the 
first place, to be relieved from them. Compliance 
with these demands was, of course, necessary. I 
therefore packed up small quantities of emetics, 
acetate of lead, worm-powders, and Epsom, and also 
a little camphor, and a little sticking-plaster, with a 
small bottle of Eau de Cologne. With these I went 
to pay my respects. We found the Sultan in a 
small private apartment. He was in an inquisitive 
mood, and began by asking me all manner of ques- 
tions, the subjects ranging from the affairs of kings 
and princes down to the handkerchief round my 
