240 
MESSENGER FROM MR. RICH. 
rode forward with an air of authority that made every one in 
his way fall back with due respect to his magnificence. I was 
yet too mere a novice in the signs of distinction used by the 
Islamites of the pashalick, to suppose that I now saw before me 
any thing less than one of his highness’s prime-ministers; whose 
more numerous train had, probably, halted without the gate. 
My surprise, therefore, was not a little excited, when this great 
personage, having alighted, proceeded direct to me; and, making 
as many reverences as if I were the pasha himself, declared him¬ 
self to be one of Mr. Rich’s trusted servants; that he brought me 
a letter from that gentleman, with a purse containing a thousand 
piastres, and the proffer of his own services to conduct me, with 
every accommodation in his power, to Bagdad. I had many 
reasons for pressing on, besides the earnest wishes of the sick of 
my party ; and, therefore, lost no time in making arrangements 
with this superb chawosh , (that being the title of his office,) for 
resuming our journey that day, towards the cool of the evening. 
By that hour, my poor fellows seemed to think themselves 
sufficiently rested; and returning to their slender equipages in 
spirits, renovated at the prospect of soon being at the end of their 
travels for some time at least, I saw them safely stowed. The 
rest were speedily on their saddles, and by six o’clock, again in 
respectable array, we set forward from the khaun gate. We had 
to pass through the town ; and from the slight cognizance I 
could take in so transient a view, I should say that Bacoubi is 
rather a considerable place, agreeably situated amidst gardens ; 
many of which extend to the verge of the Diala, through whose 
groves of date-trees we approached its banks. The water was so 
low, that we forded it with ease, at a point where the stream 
could not be more than thirty yards wide; but from the steep 
