90 
TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. III. 
were then conducted to pay our respects to the Sultan, and to be 
introduced to his son, a boy of about thirteen years of age, born 
of a slave of Soudan. We, in our turn, were visited by a great 
number of people ; who had, in the space of a few hours, informed 
themselves, very sagaciously, that we were great men, and had 
brought 30,000 dollars with us ; when, in truth, we had only 300 
(which were in Mukni's hands), and knew not where to procure 
more. Our horses, which were much fatigued and very thin, were 
fed from the castle. 
We had been thirty-nine days in coming from Tripoli ; the 
road, with the exception of the immediate vicinity of the towns, 
was a dreary desert, having but few wells, and those of salt water. 
Nothing could have been more fortunate than our travelling 
with the Sultan ; our difficulties must otherwise have been very 
great. Mukni, to do him justice, showed us every attention ; and 
we always partook of his meals when in the towns. I was his con- 
stant companion, and being of a less sedate disposition than ]Mr. 
Ritchie, he always invited me to ride by him, generally treating me 
with some cakes or dainties, which he carried with him. In return, 
I allowed him a draught from my water-skin. He spoke a little 
Italian, and amused himself much by asking questions about my 
country, of the wealth and grandeur of which he had formed very 
exalted ideas ; particularly respecting the funds, or bcmco, as he 
called it. He certainly evinced a great desire to lodge some of his 
property, in this manner, in England, provided he could arrange it 
privately ; it being against the Mahommedan religion to receive 
interest. 
When I told him that English women were allowed to have 
money in their own power, and that some of them had immense 
fortunes, he seemed scarcely to credit me. He was much astonished 
at being told, that young men often did not marry until they had 
