GENEROUS CONFIDENCE OF A NATIVE KHAUN-KEEPER. 231 
chamber-jars ; but almost as soon as the sun rises, it turns to its 
liquid state again. Some of this modifying coolness I should 
have been most glad of, at the time we were discoursing of it; 
to check the progress of the fever, which I now began to fear 
would detain us much longer under the speaker’s roof than I 
had finances to pay for his entertainment. Sedak was ill, but 
my Russian so much worse, that, besides my uneasiness respect¬ 
ing the consumption in our purse, I felt an increasing anxiety 
to proceed at any risk of present annoyance, rather than remain 
so totally out of the reach of real medical aid for the poor souls 
now painfully dependent on my slender skill, and failing means ; 
for the lack began to extend to my medicine-chest. 
Octobei; 10th. — This morning I dispatched a message to 
Bagdad, (a distance of about eighty-five miles,) to apprise Mr. 
Rich, the British resident there, of mv arrival as far as Kizzil 
Robat; of my probable detention there, and of the departing 
state of my resources. The good man of the khaun, (whose 
occupation answers to that of the keeper of an inn, the whole 
stores, &c. being furnished by himself in like manner,) soon 
after my courier’s setting out, conceived some guess of his 
errand ; and questioning Sedak, he found his conjecture right. 
On this discovery, he came to me, bringing a large bag of 
piastres in his hand; and presenting it, with the most respectful 
earnestness entreated me to accept it for my immediate use, 
and to call for as much more as I might want during my stay 
with him, or for my necessities on the road. My word, that it 
should be repaid to a friend of his at Bagdad, would be bond 
sufficient. On my expressing surprise at this ample trust in a 
stranger, he replied, that the high character Mr. Rich bore, 
made him serve with pleasure any Frangy going to, or coming 
