ners and difcourfe feemed refolved to withdraw himfelf
from his duty to the k in g : That Shekh Adelan, his younge
r brother, with the remaining troops, had left Sennaar,
and was encamped at Aira, a few miles from the town, where
he too governed defpotically by his own will ; it being the
prerogative o f the minifter to have abfolute power as foon
as he has left the capital, and put himfelf at the head o f
the army, for levying the tax from the Arabs ; but that he had
parted with the king.on terms very little Ihort o f rebellion.
■He then faid, “ Since this is the cafe, that Providence has
thrown your lot here, that you cannot g o forward to Sennaar,
nor back to Abyffinia, i f you w ill refolve to flay with
me, and turn Mahometan, which is the only true religion,
i will give you m y daughter for your wife, and you ffiall
be fecond man in the government o f Teawa ; and as my
iatention is to go next y e a r to Mecca,^you ih a ll.th en .b e
appointed to thè government o f Atbara, while I go .to Sen-
naar, and procure an office fitter for an old man.”
A l t h o u g h 1 ffildom, in my life, was Iefs inclined to merriment,
I aflefted to break out into a loud fit o f laughter;
at w hich he looked grave, feeming to take it ill, and aiking
me i f f laughed at him? “ Exadtly fQ, faid I, at you ; I was
lau ghin g to think that a man -fet over a province, to govern
it, like you, ffiould yet k n ow fo little o-f mankind as to imagine
one like me capable o f turning renegado. you may
deny it for fiome purpofe o f your own, but I know you are
well informed o f the degree o f favour and honour in which
I was whilft in Abyffinia, where I had every thing that I
defired. The y were people o f my religion, and yet I never
could confent either to flay with them or marry among therii.
What then could be my inducement to marry here, to
3 ' change
change my religion, and live in a country where there is
nothing but poverty, mifery, famine, fear, and dependence?”
S Hearken, fays he, you are a fool ; this country is a thorn
fand times healthier and fweeter than Abyffinia; but,fince
you wont take my advice, I ffiall fay no more ; come and
fee my Harem*.”— “ With all my-heart, replied I, as far as
that I Will go, and ffiall be happy to do both you and your
family all the good I can.”
T h e Shekh went before, me, through feveral apartments,
well proportioned, but very meanly furniffied, flovenly, and
in bad order. This was the part o f the houfe that belonged
to himfelf, and formed one fide o f a fquare. We crofted
the fquare to the oppofite fide, where there were feveral a-
partments furniffied in a much better ftyle. T he floors
were all covered with Turkey carpets. In an alcove fat one
o f his wives upon the ground, with a n umberof black flaves
about her. Her face was uncovered ; the circle made way
for me; fo that, firft putting my hand to my lips, I touched
the end o f her fingers with the end o f mine. In the mean
time, the-Shekh had brought a fecond wife from another
apartment, and fet her down befide the firft. They were
both women paft the middle age, feem.ed to have a great
many flaves attending them, but never had been hand-
fome. One o f them, I learned afterwards, was daughter to
the firft minifter Shekh Adelan.
I t h o u g h t it neceflkry to explain myfelf a little with Fi-
dele. You k n o w , Shekh, faid I, it is not always that yon
and
* The houfe where they keep their women*