C 1^8 ) 
a darker Colour than what is made in our Countrey. 
The lefler were, for the moft part, charged with Rice 
drefs'd after ftveral modes, fome of them having Lehen, 
(a thick four Milk) poured upon them. Lehen is a thing 
in mighty efteem in thefe hot Countries, being very 
ufeful to quench Thirft : And truly we had need of it 
here ; for \ did not fee a drop of any fort of Liquor, ex- 
cepting a Dift of Coffee before Dinner, drank at this 
fplendid Fcaft« Knives, Forks, Spoons, Trenchers, 
are filly impertinent things in the efteera of the Arabs : 
however, we being known to make ufe of fiich things, 
had large Wooden Spoons laid before us. When the 
Table was thus plentifully furniflit, the King arifing from 
his Seat, went and fate down to that Di(h that was di- 
redly before him ; and fo did the reft, as many as it 
would contain, which could not be much fhort of a 
hundred ; and fo without further Ceremony, they fell 
to, thrufting their Hands into the Dilhes, and eating by 
handfuls : Neither was there any occafion of Carving ; 
only becaufe thofe Diflies in the middle were too remote 
to be reach'd, there was an Officer on purpofe, who 
ftepping in among them, and ftanding in the (paces de- 
fignedly left for that end, with a long Ladle in both bis 
Hands, helpt any one according to their defire. When 
the King had eaten what he thought fit, he rofe up and 
waflit, and retired back to his former Seat ; and we alfo 
did the like ; others being ready to fill our Places. Nor 
did we continue much longer under the Tent in that nu- 
merous Croud ; for Affyne perceiving us a little uneafie, 
and fuppofing we had now fufficiently fatisfy'd our Cu- 
riofity, though perhaps not our Appetites, told us we 
might take our liberty, and if we thought fit, retire 
to our Tents. This Favour we gladly accepted, and 
without Ceremony returned, feveral of his Attendants 
waiting upon us back. Here we had another Dinner fet 
before us; and having fome of our own Wine and Water 
to 
