51 
tea-pot and poured some tea into a cup, and having filled 
it up with milk, he himself presented it to me. He then 
called for pen and ink; they brought him a scrap of in- 
different paper, a small horn ink-stand, and a pen made 
of a reed. He wrote a sort of prayer in four or live lines, 
which he gave to his fakih to read, who observed to him 
that a word was wanting. The sultan took the paper 
back and added that word.* Having finished his tea, 
his Moorish majesty presented me the writing to read, 
and accompanied me as I read, with his finger pointing, 
word by word. He corrected my pronunciation when 
I made a mistake, as a master would do to his scholar. 
When I had finished reading he desired me to keep the 
writing, and I have it still in my possession. 
The tea-things consisted of a gold sugar-box, a tea- 
pot, a milk-pot, and three cups of white china, gilt; they 
* The following is a translation of the fiafier. 
Praise be given to the only God. 
The blessing of God be upon our Lord Mouhhammed, and up- 
on all his. 
(The place of the Imperial Seal) 
" Be it known by these presents, that in the name of God wa 
w have granted to our servant Ali Bey of Aleppo, the castle of 
" Semalalia together with the gardens and house of Benhamet 
" Douqueby, in the quarter of Elkosor, that he may use both, or 
" dispose of them at his own option, without subjecting himself to 
" be spoken to, or having any impediments thrown in his way or 
" being touched by any person under pain of being punished; and 
f { we expressly charge our servant the kaid omar buceta (the 
" pacha of Morocco) to see this fulfilled and maintained; to give 
" his assistance to our servant Ali Bey aforesaid, to aid him in all 
" things and to have him always under his care, health. 
" Given this twenty-ninth day of Doulhaja the holy, and in the 
"year 1218/' (of the Hegeira.) 
The emperor of Morocco never signs nor has any thing to do 
with the place of date. 
The imperial seal answers every purpose 
