NASSUK. 
157 
you. In the interim, I shall pay a visit to him that 
sent you, and endeavour to convince him of the 
injustice of his conduct towards me. If I fail in 
this object, I shall dismiss him to another region, 
where his odious want of good principle will render 
him doubly welcome, and I shall myself endeavour 
more worthily to fill his place. If I succeed, I shall 
content myself by drawing from his treasury such an 
amount as I may deem to be a fair remuneration for 
my invaluable services.” Yakoob Lais concluded 
his speech by desiring the captives to make them- 
selves perfectly at ease, during his absence, and to 
demand in his name everything which they might 
require, — assuring them that they were surrounded 
by five thousand armed warriors and ten thousand 
slaves ; and that everything which they might 
desire, except liberty, would be let down to them 
through the aperture. 
The bandit chief having thus far conducted his 
project with complete success, had yet the most 
difficult part of it to accomplish ; for Dherm-ben- 
Nassuk dwelt in a strongly fortified palace, well 
guarded by day and night, and only went out from 
it upon great public occasions. Yakoob, however, 
apprehended neither difficulty nor danger, for his 
plots had never yet been met by defeat or disappoint- 
ment. Having habited himself in the travelling 
costume of a Mogul nobleman, he set forward with 
about fifty followers, ten only of whom appeared 
p 
