“I must now describe to you my introduction to the pasha. The court-yard was filled with people of very different complexions, mostly the servants, guards, and relations of the pasha. The group had a most motely appearance; many were superbly dressed, others were in rags and filthy in the extreme. The room in which his Highness was seated was decent, with nothing gaudy. He sat at the farther end of the room, and his two sons sat on chairs at the other end of it; while many of his guards and ministers stood in different positions round the chamber. He was grave, and his muscles were as motionless as those of a statue, so much so that I was several times inclined to laugh. The gravity, however, ceased after a little conversation, and then a scene was displayed far from being disagreeable. He conversed with apparent pleasure on the success of his arms, and on the great distance to which he could convey the mission in perfect safety. That, you may be assured, was agreeable intelligence to us, and inspired us with hopes of almost certain success. I had to prescribe for him, for no sooner had I entered the room than my advice was requested. The two sons present were tolerably good-looking men; the elder of them was corpulent and very like his father; and the younger of them tall, slender, and, upon the whole, a good-looking young man. The pasha’s dress was clean, plain and neat. I hope we shall be able to set off early in December—a fine season for travelling—and expect to eat our new yearday’s dinner in Mourzuk. We travel in European dresses, and in this respect we shall be different from most of the former travellers in this part of Africa. The pasha approves of our resolution, and the consul is highly delighted with it. Indeed, on reflecting seriously on the matter, I think the plan is by far the most judicious. Hypocrisy almost always engenders suspicions; and the people well know that our pretensions to be of their religion are only feigned.”