CHAP. III. 
MORZOUK. 
117 
paying liberally for Mr. Ritchie's attentions, which was not the 
case ; on the contrary, we were all day weighing out doses for the 
slaves, who never even thanked us for our trouble ; and when we 
were poor and destitute of every comfort, Mukni never gave us the 
slightest assistance : if, however, any of his family required charms 
for their disorders, the writers were liberally rewarded, and the 
effect of the medicines always attributed to those charms. When 
I commanded at the laboratory, I took good care to give such doses 
as were not easily forgotten, and, in consequence, none of his house- 
hold ever after sent for medicine, unless really ill. Many of tlie 
women required a great deal of explanation, as to how any thing 
taken into the stomach could relieve a head-ache. Purgatives were 
always despised in comparison with emetics. The allowance which 
would suffice for a strong European took no effect with them ; but 
when a double dose was given, it pleased so much, that many 
requests were made for " Just such anotlier dose as was given to 
such a one, which made him so sick that he almost died." The 
prevalent disorder when a man wanted medicine for novelty's sake 
was, being " ill all over." 
By the 20th August, IMr. Ritchie had tolerably recovered. 
Mukni had several times, during his illness, talked publicly of his 
great friendship for us, declaring, that if we were in want even of 
a thousand dollars, he would immediately lend them : but his con- 
duct was in direct contradiction to his professions ; for although he 
visited Mr. Ritchie during his illness, he never offered him the 
least assistance, or even bestowed such trifling articles of nourish- 
ment as I requested. Once, and once only, when rice was not to 
be bought, he, with great parade, sent a quart, on which tlie poor 
invalid dined for eight days. 
It became indeed but too apparent that he expected and wished 
us all to die, in which case he would have seized on, and appro- 
