164 
TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. IV. 
that a larger tribute was expected than had ever been paid. These 
reports, corroborated by one or two private letters, very much 
alarmed the Sultan, and caused him to fall sick and take to his bed. 
He began, for the first time in his life, to pray at the regular hours 
ordered by the law ; he ceased to swear, talked much of Paradise, 
and of the superiority of the other world to this. Mr. Eitchie 
was at this time very weak, and began again to be indisposed, but 
he constantly visited IMukni, and at last succeeded in restoring him 
to health ; thus returning by kindness the ill treatment we had 
received from him. A\^e both went frequently to the Castle, and 
learnt by degrees that some strong expressions of Mukni's had 
come to the ears of the Bashaw, whose emissaries he expected 
would be sent to strangle him, and take all his wealth. Never 
was a haughty tyrant so completely humbled by his fears as 
this man : he sat constantly in a dark room, would receive only 
one or two visitors, and was nursed by negresses day and night ; 
always speaking in a low voice, arid, in his terror, betraying all liis 
secrets. 
Affairs were in this state when he determined on sending his 
chief man, Aboo bekr boo Khalloum, to Tripoli, that he might 
endeavour to mediate for him with the Bashaw. Presents of 
negresses and perfumes were to be sent as a propitiation. Ten fine 
girls of the Sultan's household were intended for the Bashaw, with 
about one hundred dollars' worth of civet, and three negresses for 
the bey, the heir apparent ; two for his brothers, and one for each of 
the principal people about the Bashaw. I took this opportunity of 
sending my bill to the Consul, and Aboo bekr was to bring me 
back the money, Mr. Ritchie having written to state our distressed 
situation. Soon after the man's departure we received a present of 
a sheep, and two loaves of Egyptian sugar, from Mukni, who now 
began to feel a little more at ease ; but at the same time made 
