Reports were brought from Tripoli that it was the intention of the Bashaw to send out another Sultan to supersede Mukni, and that a larger tribute was expected than had ever been paid. These reports, corroborated by one or two private letters, very much alarmed the Sultan, and caused him to fall sick and take to his bed. He began, for the first time in his life, to pray at the regular hours ordered by the law; he ceased to swear, talked much of Paradise, and of the superiority of the other world to this. Mr. Ritchie was at this time very weak, and began again to be indisposed, but he constantly visited Mukni, and at last succeeded in restoring him to health; thus returning by kindness the ill treatment we had received from him. We both went frequently to the Castle, and learnt by degrees that some strong expressions of Mukni’s had come to the ears of the Bashaw, whose emissaries he expected would be sent to strangle him, and take all his wealth. Never was a haughty tyrant so completely humbled by his fears as this man: he sat constantly in a dark room, would receive only one or two visitors, and was nursed by negresses day and night; always speaking in a low voice, and, in his terror, betraying all his secrets. Affairs were in this state when he determined on sending his chief man, Aboo bekr boo Khalloum, to Tripoli, that he might endeavour to mediate for him with the Bashaw. Presents of negresses and perfumes were to be sent as a propitiation. Ten fine girls of the Sultan’s household were intended for the Bashaw, with about one hundred dollars’ worth of civet, and three negresses for the bey, the heir apparent; two for his brothers, and one for each of the principal people about the Bashaw. I took this opportunity of sending my bill to the Consul, and Aboo bekr was to bring me back the money, Mr. Ritchie having written to state our distressed situation. Soon after the man’s departure we received a present of a sheep, and two loaves of Egyptian sugar, from Mukni, who now began to feel a little more at ease; but at the same time made secret preparations for flight (of which we, however, were informed), by getting several of his horses shod at night, and causing all his women to grind corn and to make provision for a long and sudden journey. We were well aware, that should he be under the necessity of flying, he would not go empty handed; and it was pretty generally supposed that he would first revenge himself on the Mamlukes, whom he suspected of informing the Bashaw of his evil doings, and then take possession of our effects, which by his artful schemes had remained so long on our hands unpurchased. Our friends Yussuf and the old Hadje stole to our house several nights to give us an account of what was going forward, and, in consequence, we held consultations for our general safety. It was some satisfaction to know that all the Mamlukes, to the number of about ten, would have flocked to our house in the