CHAP. IV. 
MORZOUK. 
179 
scrupulous ready to accept, and perfectly satisfied with the lawfulness 
of the food, although when we first came into the country they 
would not eat pigeons, which were killed hy us, fancying that in 
cutting their throats we had omitted the prescribed ceremonies. 
At this period the Sultan became a little better, and began to 
give Belford a great deal of trouble, by employing him to repair 
his three field-pieces, the wheels and carriages of which were much 
out of order. There vvas great difficulty in explaining to the 
blacksmiths how to make large nails, or to bend the iron for the 
wheels, and, in Belfbrd's weak state, he found it a very laborious 
task to overlook and instruct them. He, ho vv ever, was rewarded 
with wholesome food, with which we could not have supplied him at 
home, the Sultan daily sending him some rice and meat whilst at his 
work. The poor fellow often thought of us, and wished we could 
have partaken of his good fare. This job being at last finished, I 
was consulted by Mukni respecting the construction of a coach, and 
I promised him that if he could manage to procure good wood for 
the purpose, Belford should make it, provided Mr. Ritchie did not 
object, and that I would train four horses to run in it. 
I anticipated much pleasure and amusement in this new oc- 
cupation, as I had at the time nothing to interest or divert me. 
Mukni sometimes, in high good humour, sent us a few fresh dates 
of a peculiar kind, of which Mr. Ritchie was very fond, and even 
extended his generosity so far as to allow of our cutting two palm- 
trees out of a million and a half, for Lackbi. 
Belford now began to contrive the coach in question, and out 
of an old Shiblia and some boxes, he made a body, six feet in length, 
three in breadth, and four in height. This he covered over like a 
higgler's cart, with an arched top, having a door open behind, by 
which a person could easily get in ; but ]\Iukni finding he could 
squeeze himself into a smaller compass, had it reduced in such a 
A A 2 
