THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 627
take my word, as I am a mufTulman, I did not intend it, f did not know you was ill."
My feet at that time gave me fuch violent pain that I was like to faint, and could not anfwer, but as there were two flowered velvet cufhions upon one of the fteps above the floor, I was obliged to kneel down upon one of them, as I did not know how fitting might be taken. The Bey im- mediately faw this, and cried out, " What now ? what is the matter ?" I faw he thought I had fome complaint to make, or fomething to afk. I fhewed him my feet in a terrible fituation, the effecfts, I told him, of my paffing through the defert. He defired me immediately to fit down on the cufliion. " It is the coldncfs of the night, and hanging upon the afs, faid I, occafions this ; the pain will be over prefently." "Yon are an unfortunate man, fays the Bey, whatever I mean to do for your good, turns to your mif- fortune." •'" I hope not, Sir, faid I ; the pain is now over, and I am able to hear what may be your commands." "I have many queftions to afk you, fays the Bey. You have been very kind to poor old Ifmael, who is a fherriffe, and to my Chriftian fervant likewife ; and I wanted to fee what I could do for you ; but this is not the time, go home and fleep, and I will fend for you. Eat and drink, and fear nothing. My father-in-law is gone, but, by the grace of God, I am here in his place ; that is enough." I bowed, and took my leave.
The Bey had fpoken feveral times to his fervant in Turk- ilh ; but thefe interruptions are too common at fuch au- diences to be taken notice of. I went out to the anticham- ber attended by five or fix people, and then into another
4 K 2 room
