65 
winning grace and sweetne.ss to present me a handsome 
cup filled with the same water, which I drank to the 
last drop, because it would have been considered a sort 
of crime or impiety to have refused it. 
This wretch observes the same conduct to all the 
Pachas and important personages who come here. 
Upon the slightest suspicion, or the least caprice that 
may arise in the mind of the Scherif, he orders, the 
other obeys, and the unhappy stranger ceases to exist. 
As it is reckoned impious not to accept the sacred 
water presented by the chief of the well, this man is 
arbiter of the lives of every one, and has already sacri- 
ficed many victims. 
From, time immemorial the Sultan Scherifs of 
Mecca have had a poisoner at their court; and it is 
remarkable that they do not try to conceal it, since it 
is well known, in Egypt and Constantinople, that the 
Divan has several times sent to Mecca, Pachas, or 
other persons, to be sacrificed in this manner. 
This was the reason why the Mogrebins or Arabs 
of the West, who are entirely devoted to me, hasted 
to warn me to be upon my guard upon my arrival in 
the city. My servants wished this traitor at the devil; 
but I myself treated him with the greatest marks of 
confidence. I accepted his water and his entertainments 
with an unalterable serenity and coolness. I took the 
precaution, however, to keep three doses of vitriolated 
zinc, a much more active emetic than tartar emetic, 
always in my pocket, to take the instant I should per- 
ceive the least indication of treason. 
The Scherif appeared to me to be about thirty-six 
or forty years of age: he is of a brown complexion, 
rather lusty; has fine large eyes, and a regular beard. 
His dress consists of a benisch, or outer caftan, with 
Vol. II. I 
