CHAP. III. 
ARRIVAL AT MORZOUK. 
95 
sary prostrations, until we heard the crier call to prayers, when our 
old Mamluke came to conduct us to the church. We found a 
large assembly sitting in rows on mats, our places being in front. 
The Sultan soon after entered with his guards, and the Mosque 
was instantly filled with a strong smell of attar of roses, which his 
Majesty used in large quantities. Mr. Ritchie and myself got 
through our part very well, and after the service was over, waited 
at the door to see the Sultan mount and return to the Castle. 
His horse, richly caparisoned, was led to an earthen seat, from 
which he mounted, three led horses preceding him. He was sur- 
rounded by his armed slaves, and fanned by men with ostrich 
feathers ; and thus proceeded, slowly, and amidst an immense 
crowd, to the Castle, a distance of about five hundred yards. When 
arrived there, he remained for a few minutes in the court-yard, 
seated in his state chair, and receiving the homage of his subjects, 
leaning on two of his principal people ; he then ascended into the 
Castle, where we followed him, and were allowed to sit on the 
same carpet as himself. He here paid to Mr. Ritchie the three 
hundred dollars which he owed him, and at the same time made most 
flattering promises about assisting us at any future period in money 
matters. We imphcitly believed his professions, and left the Castle 
much delighted at possessing such a friend in one, who, had he 
been ill-disposed, had so much power to injure us. 
At our return home, on examining our stock of eatables, we 
found that we had been robbed of a large sack of rice, another of 
flour, and a great quantity of cusscussou. From our hardware we 
missed one pistol, both locks of a double-barrelled gun, and several 
bags of shot. We made instant complaint to Mukni, who promised 
that every inquiry should be made for the stolen articles, and that 
they should, if found, be faithfully returned to us. We laid in a 
