S3 
After same compliments on both sides, I ordered my 
electrical machine and a camera obscura to be brought 
in. I presented these to him as objects of mere amuse- 
ment, which had no scientifical application. Having 
prepared these two machines, I placed the camera ob- 
scura near the window. The sultan got up and went 
twice into the camera; I covered him with the baize all 
the while that he amused himself in contemplating the 
objects transmitted by it. That he permitted me to do 
so was a mark of his high confidence in me. He after- 
wards amused himself with seeing the electric jar dis- 
charged, and had it often repeated; but what surprised 
him most was the experiment of the electric shock, 
which I was obliged to repeat a great many times; all of 
us holding ourselves by the hands in order to form the 
chain. He asked me many and various explications of 
these machines, as also of the influence of electricity. 
I had sent the day before to the sultan a telescope, 
and asked for it now, in order to adapt it to his sight, 
whicji I immediately did, and marked the exact place 
on the tube, after he had found the suitable distance. 
I wore very long whiskers; the sultan asked me why 
I did not cut them like other Moors; I told him that it 
was the custom in the east to wear them at full length. 
He answered, " Well, well, but this is not the fashion 
here." He had some scissors brought in and cut a little 
from his own; he then laid hold of mine, and showed me 
what I ought to cut and what to preserve; perhaps his 
first intention was to clip them himself, but as I did not 
answer he put down the scissors. 
Continuing our conversation, he asked me whether I 
had a proper instrument for measuring heat. I promised 
to send one, and took leave, carrying along with me my 
instruments. I sent him the same day a thermometer. 
