^52 DISCOVERIES OF THE FRENCH. 
a visit from the principal wife of the Brak, ac- 
companied by the ladies of her court, all mount- 
ed upon asses. The general went to meet them, 
and led them into his apartment, where they 
immediately seated themselves in the most fami- 
liar manner. They had at first three robes of 
fine cotton folded above each other ; but they 
soon threw off, first one, and then another, so that 
their attire was reduced to a single petticoat. 
They then took out their pipes and began to 
smoke ; when observing that Brue did not follow 
the example, and learning that he abstained in 
testimony of respect, the queen insisted on his 
taking her own pipe, and sent for another. The 
conversation now became extremely animated, 
and the Director found it difficult to reply to the 
numerous questions addressed to him from all 
quarters. The ladies of France, their beauty, 
their dress, their gallantry, and the magnificence 
of the court, formed the favourite topics. While 
the ladies dined, Brue retired into another room, 
understanding this to be conformable to the cus- 
toms of the country. Such reserve, however, 
appears to have been considered as superfluous ; 
for, in the midst of dinner, the queen sent for 
him, and made him sit down. When the enter- 
tainment was over he presented them with coffee 
and chocolate, which they found excellent. At 
parting he made a number of presents, always the 
