my clothes, another took off my hat, a third stopped me to examine my waistcoat buttons, and a fourth called out, la ilia el allah Mahamet rasowl allahi* and signified, in a threatening manner, that I must repeat those words. We reached at length the king's tent, where we found a great number of: people, men and women, assembled. Ali was sitting upon a black leather cushion, clipping a few hairs from his upper lip ; a female attendant holding up a looking glass before him. He appeared to be an old man, of the Arab cast, with a long white beard ; and he had a sullen and indignant aspect. Hesurveyedme withatten- tion, and inquired of the Moors if I could speak Arabic : being answered in the negative, he appeared much surprised, and continued silent. The surrounding attendants, and especially the ladies, were abundantly more inquisitive: they asked a thousand questions ; inspected every part of my apparel, searched my pockets, and obliged me to unbutton my waistcoat, and display the whiteness of my skin : they even counted my toes, and fingers, as if they doubted whether I was in truth a human being. In a little time the priest announced evening prayers ; but before the people departed, the Moor who had acted as interpreter, informed me that Ali was about to present me with something to e a t ; and looking round, I observed some boys bringing a wild hog, which they tied to one of the tent strings, and Ali made signs to me to kill and dress it for supper,, Though I was very hungry, I did not think it prudent to eat any part o f an animal so. much detested by the Moors, and therefore told him that I never eat such food. They then * See page 103. V I r 1
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