BONDOU — THE KING. 351 
prehensible than the mechanism of the umbrella. 
But as he was going to depart, his majesty desir- 
ed him to stop a little, and immediately favoured 
him with a specimen of African eloquence, equal- 
ly unsatisfactory to the traveller. It commenced 
with a panegyric on the whites, their immense 
wealth, and extensive benevolence : The body of 
the narration consisted of an ingenious eulogium 
on Mr Park's blue coat, not omitting the yellow 
buttons with which it was decorated, while the 
conclusion contained an eloquent address to the 
owner, to persuade him to present it to his majes- 
ty, urging, that he would wear it on all public oc- 
casions, and inform every one that saw it of the 
donor's generosity. These arguments, with still 
more powerful motives, which his majesty did not 
urge, induced Mr Park to comply with this re- 
quest, and quietly stripping off his coat, he laid it 
at the feet of the king. In consideration of this 
and the other presents, he was presented with five 
drachms of gold, and his baggage was exempted 
from examination. Next day the king desired 
him to visit his women, and upon his assenting, 
he was conducted into the seraglio. Here he was 
rallied by the African beauties, upon the white- 
ness of his skin, and the prominence of his nose, 
which, they alleged, were both artificial. The 
first, these philosophical ladies attributed to his 
having been bathed in milk when young, while 
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