26 
VISIT INTO THE TOWN. 
Early the next morning, we were surprised by a train of ser¬ 
vants from the kind-hearted Abyssinian, all bearing presents of 
various kinds ; in short, every thing it was possible to think of 
for the convenience or luxury of travellers; and what was more, 
he strictly forbade his servants receiving any gift whatever in 
return. Such rare munificence could only be repaid by personal 
acknowledgement. Hence it became absolutely necessary that I 
should seek admittance to the town, to repair immediately to his 
quarters and speak our thanks. Besides, I was pleased to have a 
feasible excuse for making any demand that might pass a grateful 
foreigner over the interdicted lines. I therefore set forth, and 
meeting no opposition, passed the bridge of communication ; 
which conducts to a succession of narrow streets, arched over¬ 
head in the manner of bazars. Following through them, I was 
brought to the house of the Ketkhoda, or chief magistrate, and 
ushered into a large room overlooking the ravine to the south, 
where I found the munificent steward of the royal Lady of Shiraz 
seated on his carpet, and surrounded by all the great men of the 
town. His office gave him rank with the highest. The moment 
he saw me, there was good cheer in his very welcome. He 
started up, and, with animated eyes and voice, held forth his 
hands. There is a something in a truly benevolent nature that 
finds brothers in all men, and makes a friend of every man. The 
circle round the good Hadge Bachire looked as if they loved him; 
and not confining his cordial greeting to words and smiles, the 
whole party had the finest services of fruits, sweetmeats, and ka- 
liouns placed before them. But the object of greatest interest to 
me, was one of the guests themselves ; the once-doomed victim 
of Nackee Khan’s rapacious cruelty, whose miraculous escape 
from the death to which he had been condemned, I slightly men- 
