436 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER
of yours. As for the fmell, you will fee that cured pre- fently."
After having rubbed him abundantly with greafe, they brought a pretty large horn, and in it fomething fcent- cd, about as liquid as honey. It was plain that civet was a great part of the compofition. The king went out at the door, I fuppofe into another room, and there two men deluged him over with pitchers of cold water, whilll, as I imagine, he was ftark-naked. He then returned, and a ilave anointed him with this fweet ointment ; after which he fat down, as completely drefled, being jull going to his women's apartment where he was to fup. I told him I won- dered why he did not ufe rofe- water as in Abyllinia, Arabia, and Cairo. He faid, he had it often from Cairo, when the merchants arrived ; but as it was now long fmce any came, his people could not make more, for the rofe would not grow in his country, though the women made fomething like it of lemon- flower.
His toilet being finiflied, Ithen produced my prefcnt which I told him the king of Abylfmia had fent to him, hoping that, according to the faith and cuftom of nations, he would not only proteifl me while here, but fend me fafely and fpcedily out of his dominions into Egypt. He anfwered, There was a time when he could have done all this, and more, but thofe times were changed. Sennaar was in ruin, and was not like what it once Avas. He then ordered fome perfumed forbet to be brought for me to drink in his pre- fence, which is a pledge that your perfon is in fafery. I there- upon withdrew, and he went to his ladies.
